The Cinque Terre's most romantic walking trail—the aptly named Via dell'Amore (Love Path)—will reopen in Italy on Saturday, 12 years after a landslide in September 2012 injured four Australian tourists and highlighted the region's urgent need for reconstruction and increased safety measures, the BBC reports.
The 800-meter footpath, carved into steep cliffs with breathtaking views of the Ligurian Sea, has a 104-year history and a future that depends crucially on preserving Italy's coastal landscapes.
Until it closed in 2012, the stunning route was one of the most popular sections of the 130-kilometer network of trails that crosses the “five lands” that give the Cinque Terre its name; linking the colorful medieval borgi (villages) of Riomaggiore and Manarola.
Ironically, no one ever planned to build the Path of Love. Today, Riomaggiore and Manarola, the vertical villages perched on majestic cliffs, with houses piled on top of each other like pastel ice cream scoops, attract millions of foreign tourists in search of a colorful Italian fantasy. But they were originally simple settlements of seafaring farmers, connected only by an ancient path over a steep peak that was so difficult to cross that communication was difficult, and the two tiny villages spoke different dialects.
How to visit Cinque Terre
The “five lands” of the Cinque Terre—Monterosso al Mare, Vernazzo, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore—are all within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Cinque Terre National Park, and are intertwined by 48 trails of varying intensity.
The most convenient way to explore them is by taking the Cinque Terre Express trains, which run every 20 minutes and take you through all five towns. Or strap on your hiking boots and hit the trail, armed with a Cinque Terre Card, which allows visitors to enter the park and use park services, including guided tours and free use of restrooms. Stop to sample local delicacies like pesto pasta, Ligurian focaccia, and sardines. You can also visit the villages by ferry. Four of the park’s trails are now accessible to people with disabilities.
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