Around 57million tourists headed to Italy in 2023 to explore the country’s beautiful cities and stunning coastal regions.
Many head to the capital city Rome, or to the fashion hub of Milan. Further afield, the Amalfi Coast offers picturesque coastal scenery and stunning food.
A lesser-known cultural site is the Via dell’Amore, or ‘Path of love.’
Located between the villages of Riomaggiore and Manarola, the path was closed in 2012 after four tourists were injured by a landlslide.
But the path is reopening this weekend, meaning it will surely once again become a popular site for tourists to visit.
The 1km route is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built during the modernisation of the railway line between Genoa and La Spezia in the early 20th century.
Steel and mesh has been used to prevent rocks from above from falling on those walking along the beautiful route.
Be warned though, the Cinque Terre coastline where the path is located is extremely popular, with some locals even lamenting the congestion caused by tourists.
Giovanni Toti, president of the Liguria Region, branded the path a “jewel for our region, not just for those who visit.”
The Via dell’Amore is the first section of a longer route called the ‘Blue Path’.
The route starts from Riomaggiore before taking visitors to Monterosso al Mare through Manarola, Corniglia and Vernazza.
The whole path takes around five hours to walk.
The Cinque Terre National Park charges visitors to access some parts of the path. You can purchase a trekking card that allows yiu to access facilities for €7.50 for a day and €14.50 for two days.
For cards that give you unlimited access, the cost is as follows: €18.20 for one day, €33 for two days and €47 for three days.