Via dell'Amore, Coastal hiking trail in Cinque Terre, Italy
The path is a cliffside trail in Cinque Terre that runs for roughly 900 meters between Riomaggiore and Manarola along the Ligurian coast. The route hugs the rock face close to the sea, offering direct views over the water as it follows the shoreline.
Local residents built the path during the 1920s as a more direct link between the two villages, avoiding the steep climb of 600 steps. The route remained closed for years after a landslide in 2012 and reopened in 2024.
Workers blasted the hard rock with dynamite during construction, then carved the path from the stone using pickaxes and shovels. Couples from around the world now attach small padlocks to the railings and toss the keys into the sea as tokens of affection.
Visitors can walk the path only with booked guided tours that start in Riomaggiore and are limited to 30 people per group. Reservations must be made in advance online, as spontaneous visits are not possible.
After reopening, crews installed 2,600 square meters (28,000 square feet) of steel netting on the rocks to prevent rockfalls and increase hiker safety. More than 100 sensors now monitor the stability of the rock face continuously along the entire route.
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