In recent news, the local authorities in Italy have reopened what is considered to be the most romantic walk throughout the globe.
Often referred to as the Path of Love, it is considered to be a great example of how responsible tourism can be encouraged.
The path winds between the Cinque Terre and is now welcoming tourists after over a decade.
What is Via dell’Amore?
The Path of Love or Via dell’Amore is situated between Manarola and Riomaggiore. It shut down back in 2012, soon after a landslide caused severe injuries to four tourists.
Consequently, the trail was also damaged and needed to be closed off in order to renovate.
Ever since then, the authorities have been extensively renovating the path, ensuring that it reopens in July of next year.
As of now, the first section, meaning the hiking route, is open to tourists for a summer preview up until the end of September.
More about the ‘Path of Love’
Via dell’Amore is a route with a total distance of 1km, which goes around no less than five villages. Together, they make up a UNESCO World Heritage Site, also known as Cinque Terre.
The pathway winds all the way toward the coat and offers viewers the chance to experience the stunning beauty of the sea and the landscape.
The Path of Love was originally built at the time when the railway line that sits between La Spezia and Genoa was being modernized.
At the beginning of the 20th century, railroad workers wanted an easy way to travel to Manarola and Riomaggiore, while they were working to build the tunnel.
Consequently, they took to carving a footpath solely using the hard rock that overhung above the sea.
The reason why Vio dell’Amore received this name was because it eventually turned into a place where lovers from the two towns came to meet each other.
Where the Cinque Terre is concerned, the villages that it includes are well-known for their jewel-toned constructions that are set in the cliffs over the sea.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site is a beauty of its own due to it being surrounded by a national park. Each year, the location is visited by 2.4 million people, who come to cycle, boat, or walk through the stunning surroundings.
One of the most popular stretches that lie on the coastline of Cinque Terre is Via dell’Amore, which is especially popular with foreign tourists.
For the last couple of years, including 2023, the seaside villages have had to fight off mass tourism and introduce fines of €275.
These are levied on visitors who block pedestrians or traffic by lingering around to take selfies.
The new improvements
As per the renovation and restoration project, the rocks below and above the pathway have been contained using steel mesh.
Moreover, 8,800 plants have been added to help reinforce the landscape.
The authorities have also taken to set up a monitoring system that gives out warnings in case of any potential landslides.
