Cinque Terre, Via dell' Amore 

Villas of Italy will walk the Via dell' Amore (Lovers’ lane) next September. Via dell' Amore is the most famous and romantic stretch of the Cinque Terre coastline. It connects the picturesque villages of Riomaggiore and Manarola and is only about 1 km (2/3rds mile) long. 

Via dell'Amore is the easiest section of the Sentiero Azzurro (blue trail) which takes hikers from Riomaggiore to Monterosso. The trail has a magical atmosphere as it is excavated through hard rock and is winding along the rock-face overhanging the sea.

The history of the Via dell'Amore path dates to the beginning of the 20th century during the modernization of the Genoa - La Spezia railway line. A footpath was needed by the railroad workers to move between Riomaggiore and Manarola during the construction of the tunnel between the two villages. The legend holds that this footpath became a meeting place for lovers from the two towns.

​Via dell'Amore is today the most famous site for tourists visiting the Cinque Terre. Due to landslides the trail has been closed for renovation and has now reopened. Today it’s a paved flat walking path for a pleasant stroll affording spectacular views of the cliffs, vineyards and the sea. ​