Visitare le Cinque Terre percorrendo la Via dell’amore

One of the most famous attractions is undoubtedly the Lover’s Lane, between Manarola and Riomaggiore, a kilometer-long walk overlooking the sea, where the stone changes step by step, marking fairy-tale caves (nothing better for romantic rendezvous), framed by whims of agave and pittosporum, which jut out 50 meters above the sea. But there is also the Path of the Five Ancient Sanctuaries, which watch over the coast, offering a fascinating visit: Montenero, on the road to Manarola; Our Lady, a Romanesque jewel just outside the village of Volastra; San Bernardino, on the trail to Corniglia; the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Reggio, above Vernazza, and that of the Madonna of Soviore, a three-quarter hour walk from Monterosso. In these churches, centuries ago, the people of the villages would gather to pray against the threat of invading Turks. Today, those who climb there are still women, who have not lost the habit of trusting the Saints and the Madonna when their men are at sea. The route, to be done on foot or horseback, starts from the Blue Trail, which connects, halfway up the slope, Monterosso to Riomaggiore and climbs up to the medieval village of Volastra, then continuing along the Path of the Sanctuaries, among pine forests and chestnut woods, vineyards and olive groves, ridges and ravines overlooking the sea. But the Cinque Terre are also beautiful when seen from the sea, thanks to the convenient and frequent boat service departing from La Spezia, Portovenere and Levanto.