Way of Love in the Cinque Terre, the most romantic walk of Italy

Famous destination for young lovers from around the world, the Way of Love (Via dell’Amore) is a footpath overlooking the sea that connects the villages of Riomaggiore and Manarola in the Cinque Terre. It’s a little more than a kilometer, that can be covered by anyone in just over 20 minutes without the need to use special hiking equipment. The Way of Love, famous for its breathtaking views, is one of the most important tourist attractions in Liguria and is part of the National Park of the Cinque Terre area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You can reach the Way of Love from the front of the station of Riomaggiore, where a staircase allows you to get over the rail and reach the beginning of the famous trail in a few minutes. Even people with disabilities can access them easily. The route allows you to admire exotic vegetation with agaves, pittosporum, prickly pears and Fennel Sea, while upstream the Maquis covers the rocky surface. The flight of seagulls accompanies this romantic walk. The stone benches scattered along the trail allow you to make necessary stops to enjoy the wonderful views of the Ligurian Sea. The last stretch of the Way of Love is located below the terraced vineyards, overlooking the railway station of Manarola. You can get into town via an about 150 meters pedestrian tunnel.

Perhaps not everyone knows that the Way of Love is part of a longer route, known as "Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path)", which runs through the whole territory of the Cinque Terre from Riomaggiore to Monterosso. This trail, located a hundred feet above sea level and connecting all five boroughs, is the route most frequented by tourists and hikers.

The best time to walk through the Way of Love is in the early morning or around sunset, not only to avoid overcrowding of visitors, but also to enjoy much better light and weather conditions. The Way of Love is subject to payment of an entrance ticket for 5 Euros, the proceeds of which need to safeguard the terraced landscape and paths, unfortunately threatened by dangerous erosion.