Here’s some good news for those heading to Italy for a walking holiday.
The Cinque Terre's most romantic hiking trail – dubbed the Via dell'Amore (Path of Love) – is reopening in Italy on 27 July, 12 years after the Sept 2012 landslide that injured four Aussie tourists and highlighted the area's need for renovations and increased safety measures.
The 800m footpath, carved on steep cliffs with breathtaking views of the Ligurian sea, has a 104-year history and a future that crucially depends on the preservation of Italy's coastal landscapes.
Prior to its 2012 shuttering, the stunning route was one of the most popular tracts of the 130km network of trails crisscrossing the "five lands" that give Cinque Terre its name; linking the multi-coloured medieval borghi (villages) of Riomaggiore and Manarola.
Today, the entire area is a national park that celebrates human ingenuity as well as Mother Nature, with around 130km of footpaths allowing you to explore it all.
But as well as a place to walk, this is also a place to relax. Watch the waves beat against the rocks from one of the medieval castles scattered along the coast – a hallmark of Liguria, the wider region.
Enjoy a glass of local. Watch the sunset set the sea aflame. And rejoice that you chose more than a day trip!
For more info click here.