If Italy wasn’t a romantic enough destination, the country’s famous ‘Path Of Love’ walk is reopening after 12 years.
The walking path, which is located in the Cinque Terre, closed after a landslide in September 2012 that injured four Australian tourists.
12 years later, after a much-needed reconstruction and with new safety measures in place, the walking path will welcome lovers once again.
What Is Italy’s Path Of Love?
The Via dell’Amore (way of love) is one section of the 130km long stretch of trails that link the five multicoloured villages of the Cinque Terre.
Linking the villages of Riomaggiore and Manarola, the trail might only be one kilometre long but before its closure, it was one of the most popular walks in the Cinque Terre.
This isn’t only due to its romantic name but because the footpath also happens to be carved into steep cliffs that offer spectacular views across the Ligurian sea.
Before the trail, the cliffs were so challenging to traverse that Riomaggiore and Manarola communicated so little that they spoke different dialects.
It was only when locals decided to connect the villages through a path in 1920 that the trail also became a popular date night spot, leading to someone (who still remains anonymous) to scrawl ‘Via dell’Amore one of the walls of the rocks.
By the 1970s, the name was official and benches dedicated to mythological gods of love and passion were installed along the path.
When Will The Via dell’Amore Reopen?
The Via dell’Amore will reopen on 27 July, 2024—just in time for your European summer holiday.
However, to walk the path, you will need to book your ticket online or at one of the ticket booths. This is to prevent overcrowding on the extremely popular trail.
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
