Via dell'Amore: Italy’s Romantic 'Path Of Love' Reopens After Decade-Long Restoration

Italy's Romantic 'Path of Love', Via dell'Amore, reopens after a decade's closure due to a 2012 landslide. Guided tours offer access to its picturesque beauty along the Cinque Terre coast.

Via dell’Amore, celebrated as the world's most romantic stroll, has been revived in Italy's enchanting 'Cinque Terre' after a decade of closure due to a landslide in 2012. This iconic pathway, tracing the Ligurian coast between 'Riomaggiore' and 'Manarola', offers breathtaking sea vistas and is a cherished UNESCO World Heritage Site. While only the initial segment is currently accessible through guided tours, the full 2,950-foot pathway will welcome visitors by July 2024.

A landslip on September 24, 2012, injured four tourists and forced the trail to close for repairs. After a decade-long renovation, the first section has reopened for a summer preview until September 30, CNN reported. The entire 2,950-foot walkway will reopen in July 2024 after being renovated.

According to the report, in order to protect the landscape for future generations, access to "one of the most visited regions in one of the world's most visited countries" is now only by guided tour.

The pathway was described as a "pearl set on the cliffs of the magnificent Ligurian coast" on the official website. This pedestrian street, which connects Riomaggiore and Manarola, is well-known for its high naturalistic value and close ties with the locals.

The practicable section of Via dell'Amore is about 170 metres long and can be reached from the square above the Riomaggiore railway station.

The ticket costs 5€ and is free for children (0-3 years) and people with disabilities. It included admission to Riomaggiore Castle and a guided tour of the first section of the Via dell'Amore. The first section of the Via dell’Amore remains open between 9 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 7 pm, with the last admission times being 12:30 pm and 6:30 pm, respectively.

Cinque Terre, on the other hand, is a collection of centuries-old seaside villages along Italy's rugged Riviera coastline. These five towns are filled with colourful houses, vineyards with steep terraces, fishing harbours, and delectable seafood specialties.

"The Cinque Terre constitute a landscape and cultural treasure, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997," according to the official website. "With the cultivated terraces overlooking the sea, the villages perched on the coast bathed in crystal clear waters, the paths that intertwine offering breathtaking views, the Cinque Terre constitute a landscape and cultural treasure, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997," it added.