Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Everything at Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe is served in takeout containers.
Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe
The fried green tomato sandwich comes on jalapeño cornbread toast.
Café Reconcile
BBQ shrimp braised in beer are a popular menu item.
High Hat Cafe
The pastries at Lagniappe Bakehouse are worth waking up for.
Lagniappe Bakehouse
Peter Vazquez has been quietly making a name for himself for years.
The Appetite Repair Shop
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
9 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
10 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
11 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
12 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Italy Riomaggiore Via dell’Amore

Via dell’Amore

A lover's walk between hilltop towns, decorated with graffiti love notes.

Riomaggiore, Italy

Added By
Annetta Black
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The path on which lovers meet   Wiki User: Brianza2008
The path on which lovers meet   Wiki User: Brianza2008
Via Dell’Amore Riomaggiore 2009   TheDogsMum / Atlas Obscura User
Via Dell’Amore Riomaggiore 2009   TheDogsMum / Atlas Obscura User
Via Dell’Amore Riomaggiore 2009   TheDogsMum / Atlas Obscura User
Via Dell’Amore Riomaggiore 2009   TheDogsMum / Atlas Obscura User
Via Dell’Amore Riomaggiore 2009   TheDogsMum / Atlas Obscura User
Via dell’Amore Cafe 2009   TheDogsMum / Atlas Obscura User
Via Dell’Amore Riomaggiore 2009   TheDogsMum / Atlas Obscura User
Via Dell’Amore Riomaggiore 2009   TheDogsMum / Atlas Obscura User
Via dell’Amore Cafe 2009   TheDogsMum / Atlas Obscura User
Locks of Love   mocchiatto / Atlas Obscura User
Approaching Riomaggiore on the Via dell’Amore   hzoi / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Stretching between the northern Italian coastal towns of Riomaggiore and Manorola, in the picturesque cluster of towns known as Cinque Terre, a cliffside trail allowed lovers from the towns to meet.

Built after the introduction of the railway in the early 20th century reduced the isolation of the tiny hillside towns, the trail became known as Via dell’Amore, or "Lover's Way",  in the years after WWII when the trail was restored. The modest path winds along the edge of the seaside cliffs, with a spectacular view of the water, and plenty of secluded spots along the way.

The once perilous path has been renovated and shored up many times over the decades. Today, hundreds of initials and tiny hearts and messages of love and lust adorn the cliffside wall of the pathway, marking the passing of thousands of lovers in the years since its opening.

 After a lengthy closure due to landslides, the path once again opened its gates in 2024, ready to welcome lovers (and everyone else) from around the world.

 

Related Tags

Lovers Lanes

Know Before You Go

Note that for all those not staying in Manarola or Riomaggiore the path is one way towards Manarola.

Also, one requires a timed entry ticket in addition to either the Cinque Terre Trekking Card or a Cinque Terre Treno MS Card. (All Info as of 2024)

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails

Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Annetta Black

Edited By

Rachel, YVR cockroach, autnoc, Osage...

  • Rachel
  • YVR cockroach
  • autnoc
  • Osage
  • julianfkeller99
  • hzoi
  • mocchiatto
  • TheDogsMum

Published

January 30, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.smithsonianmag.com/ricksteves/the-love-story-behind-the-via-dellamore-12224656/
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_dell'Amore
Via dell’Amore
Riomaggiore, 19017
Italy
44.102256, 9.732685

Nearby Places

Cinque Terre

Vernazza, Italy

miles away

Chapel of Santa Marta, Vernazza

Vernazza, Italy

miles away

Doria Castle

Vernazza, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,054
Stories 110

Nearby Places

Cinque Terre

Vernazza, Italy

miles away

Chapel of Santa Marta, Vernazza

Vernazza, Italy

miles away

Doria Castle

Vernazza, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,054
Stories 110

Related Stories and Lists

11 Sites for Clandestine Romance

List

By Diana Hubbell

Related Places

  • Bath, England

    Dueling Lane

    In addition to escorting prospective couples to and from ballrooms, this lane was also a place for gentlemen to settle scores.

  • A knot on the Knopenlaantje.

    Vorden, Netherlands

    Het Knopenlaantje

    Where lovers tie birch branches into long-lived knots.

  • The Swinging Bridge

    Columbus Junction, Iowa

    Lover's Leap Swinging Bridge

    A warning to the weak-kneed: This narrow bridge does its swinging eight stories high.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.