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.

Quick Trip: 24 Hours in Stresa, Italy

With the cold, icy weather outside, I can’t stop thinking about the beautiful day we spent in Stresa, Italy. After two weeks exploring Milan, Florence, Venice, Rome, Naples, Capri, and Cinque Terre, all we wanted to do was relax. With islands to explore and gorgeous views of Lake Maggiore, we couldn’t have picked a better place to cap off our trip to Italy.

How to get there: 
The easiest way to get to Stresa is by train. Stresa is only an hour away from Milan, so we took a train to Milan and hopped on a regional train to get to Stresa. You can also get to Stresa from Switzerland. Trains run daily from Geneva to Milan with a stop in Stresa.

What to do:
As soon as we got off the train, I was eager to explore the area around the lake, luggage and all. Thank goodness for my more practical hubby, who convinced me to drop off our luggage at our hotel before heading to the lakeside promenade. The promenade was lined with palm trees and flowers, with plenty of gelato stands and park benches!

After we enjoyed the park and ate way too much gelato (is there really such a thing as too much gelato?), we took a ferry from Stresa Lido to the Borromean Islands. Isola Bella and Isola Pescatori were by far my favorite parts of our time in Stresa. Isola Bella definitely lives up to its name of “beautiful island.” The island, known for Borromeo Palace and its beautiful gardens, was absolutely gorgeous. We explored the gardens and visited the street vendors. There, I picked up one of my favorite souvenirs from the trip, a potholder with my name embroidered on it.

After Isola Bella, we took the ferry to Isola Pescatori, a small fishing village filled with markets that sell everything from gelato to ceramics. Isola Pescatori is known for its delicious fish, so we decided to split a fish dish (and a giant gelato sundae) on the terrace of a restaurant as we watched the sun set over Lake Maggiore. After weeks of running from one attraction to another, it was lovely to sit back and take in the beauty of Italy.

We arrived in Stresa in the afternoon, so the next day we explored the city (a walking tour can be found here), went shopping (I got a hand-painted bowl from a local artist), and spent more time by the lake before leaving for our next destination.

Have more time?
If we had more time in the area, we would have visited some of the other towns along Lake Maggiore, such as Baveno, Pallanza, Cannobio, and Ascona. I would also love to take the Lake Maggiore Express, a train that takes you through the many villages and valleys of Lake Maggiore.

Where to stay:
We stayed at the Hotel Meeting, which was a nice, basic hotel with a free continental breakfast in a central location: a 10-minute walk from both the train station and Lake Maggiore. We also had dinner at the hotel for a fixed price. My dinner was bacon pasta, trout, and tiramisu, and I thought it tasted good for the price we paid.

Three Relaxing Destinations in Italy

Italy is full of so many must-visit places, especially the popular cities of Rome, Florence, and Venice. After we visited Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, and Naples all in a row, I was both physically and mentally exhausted from trying to visit as many cultural sites as possible in a limited time. I was incredibly thankful that we had decided to add a number of places to unwind to round out our Italian itinerary. During that trip, we picked five relaxing destinations. Today, I’m sharing three of my favorites.

Capri:

Capri is not just my favorite relaxing destination in Italy—it is one of the most beautiful places that I have ever visited. After two weeks visiting museums and other attractions, there was nothing better than walking around with a local lemon drink in my hand, looking out at the breathtaking scenery. I also really enjoyed taking a boat tour of the island with a stop at the Grotto Azzurra, where the light turns the water in the cave into a brilliant blue.

See: Grotto Azzurra (The Blue Grotto), boat tour from the Marina Grande, take a summit up to Monte Solaro in Anacapri for incredible views of Anacapri and the Gulf of Naples, and Villa Jovis.

Stresa:

I asked my husband to pick a random city in Italy where we could relax for a few days, and he picked Stresa, a city on the banks of Lake Maggiore. I had no idea what to expect, but we had an amazing time. We spent our days walking along the banks of Lake Maggiore and taking boat rides to the Borromean Islands. It was so relaxing to explore the gardens at Isola Bella and the colorful markets at the small fishing village of Isola Pescatori.

See: Lake Maggiore, Isola Bella, Isola Pescatori, cable car to Mount Mottarone, and Alpine Gardens.

Cinque Terre:

Although the hikes in the five villages of Cinque Terre are not always relaxing, I was able to unwind by sitting on the patio of a restaurant, looking out towards the gorgeous seaside views. The Via dell’ Amore is an easy walk that offers incredible views of the sea. We stayed just outside of Cinque Terre in the city of Moneglia to save money, and Moneglia turned out to be a treat! There was a beautiful beach away from the crowds where we could relax after a day in Cinque Terre.

See: Via dell’ Amore, hiking trails, explore all five villages.