The Cinque Terre is the name given to 5 villages north of Livorno, that are literally nestled in the coves of the Ligurian Sea and climb straight up the mountainsides from the water. The hillsides surrounding these villages have been terraced with backbreaking labour and are home to olive trees, lemons, and grape vines.

It is possible to walk the sea wall between the first and second towns, on the Via Della L’Amore which links Riomaggiore to Manarola.

On this Lover’s Lane you will find padlock after padlock attached to the railing.

Apparently lovers express their commitment to each other by attaching a lock to the rail and tossing their keys into the surf below, as a pledge of their undying love.

On the day we walked the Via Della L’Amore, someone had taken the symbolism one step further, and romantically trimmed this patch of pigweed in the shape of a heart.

Love is alive and well in the Cinque Terre.