Italy’s renowned ‘Path of Love’ reemerges after a hiatus of over a decade. However, in a bid to promote responsible tourism, the revamped visiting regulations mandate prior reservations and impose a cap on the daily footfall.
Via dell’Amore, the iconic footpath spanning the Ligurian coastline of Cinque Terre, has been partially reintroduced to tourists. Stretching 2,950 feet, this trail has held its status as one of Italy’s most popular trekking destinations since its inception in the early 1930s. Nevertheless, its existence was threatened by landslides, leading to the closure of the rugged “Lover’s Lane” or “Path of Love” in 2012. This was done to facilitate an extensive restoration initiative, causing visitors to be deprived of its charm for over a decade, until a 555-foot segment of the trail was reopened last month.
As part of a three-month trial initiative, nearly a quarter of Via dell’Amore (spanning between the towns of Riomaggiore and Manarola) is now accessible to visitors. Reports suggest that this trial might be extended beyond its current period should it prove successful. The purpose of this program is to foster sustainable tourism across Cinque Terre, a picturesque stretch of the rugged Italian Riviera coastline encompassing five coastal towns: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso.
Giovanni Toti, the President of the Liguria Region which encompasses Cinque Terre, emphasized the revival of “a heritage of Liguria, Italy, and the world.” He stated this during a press conference announcing the trail’s reopening, further noting that Via dell’Amore is a regional treasure and not just a destination for tourists.
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