Stunning Sea Views on the Via dell’Amore in Cinque Terre, Italy

I always get nostalgic this time of year because my TimeHop is filled with reminders of the time Christopher and I lived in Europe (we left the United States in late January). One of my favorite memories from our adventure was the two weeks we spent exploring Italy, visiting Milan, Lake Como, Venice, Rome, Florence, Pisa, Naples, Capri, Cinque Terre, and Stresa. This morning, as I gazed out the window at a cold and snowy Chicago, I started reminiscing about our beautiful warm and sunny day walking along the Via dell’Amore.

The Via dell’ Amore, or “The Pathway of Love” is a path that links the first two towns in Cinque Terre: Riomaggiore and Manarola. It is said to have gotten its name because it’s an easy path for lovers who live in the two cities to take to meet each other. The trail is a little over a kilometer and is about a 20-minute walk, depending on crowds.

The Via dell’Amore is the kind of place that shows up in my dreams. I love being by water, so there was nothing better than walking by the gorgeous sea with absolutely stunning cliff views. I could have stayed there all day.

One of my favorite parts of the path was a place where we could climb on the rocks to get an amazing view of the landscape and be as close as possible to the sea.

Sadly, a little while after our Via dell’Amore adventure, there was a huge rockslide, and Via dell’Amore was closed. At this time, only 200 meters of the path is open. We had such a wonderful time that I would love to go back once it opens again.