Italy’s renowned Via dell’Amore, or ‘Path of Love’, is set to reopen on Saturday, July 27, following extensive renovations costing over $24 million, according to the Italian Tourism Ministry.
This scenic 900-meter, 2,950-foot, trail, offering breathtaking sea views, is located in Riomaggiore, Liguria, within the Cinque Terre region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.
It attracted couples since meeting at this Liguria hotspot didn’t require climbing a cliff.
Friends and lovers would gather on the trail to show their affection with padlocks and sweet graffiti.
The trail was shut down in September 2012 after a landslide injured four Australian tourists.
Its reopening has been a significant challenge due to its delicate cliffside position.
The refurbishment, beginning on January 14, 2022, and concluding on July 19, 2024, involved intricate engineering efforts.
Specialized teams utilized helicopters for material transport and installed a stainless steel net and deep bolts, with rock climbers handling equipment while suspended on ropes and steel cables.
The total investment of nearly €24 million (about $26 million) was funded by several Italian ministries. The Municipality of Riomaggiore will now manage the trail as an open-air museum.
From July 27 to August 8, the path will be exclusively open to residents of Cinque Terre, Levanto, La Spezia, and former residents and second-home owners in Riomaggiore.
Starting August 9, tourists can access the path by booking in advance on the website www.viadellamore.info, currently under construction, and paying a €10, approximately $11, fee.
Guided visits will be offered, with access capped at 400 people per hour, in groups of 100 every 15 minutes, on a one-way route from Riomaggiore to Manarola.
On Friday evening, the path was formally inaugurated by government officials and local authorities.
“It is a source of great pride for us to be able to return the Via dell’Amore, in all its beauty, uniqueness and in complete safety, to residents, Ligurians and tourists from all over the world,” said Giacomo Giampedrone, commissioner for the safety work.
Giampedrone highlighted the complexity and spectacle of the restoration, likening it to the meticulous recovery of a priceless artwork, with utmost care for the environment.
He invited visitors to Liguria to experience the Via dell’Amore, “My invitation is to come to Liguria to admire the Via dell’Amore: let yourself be amazed by this unique place, suspended between the sky and the sea, set in the rock, in the heart of a natural paradise. You will be left breathless by its beauty.”
