Too many tourists

Hiking trail in Cinque Terre gets one-way regulation

The national park around Cinque Terre is taking measures against mass tourism.(Bild: Alexander Rochau, stock.adobe.com)

The breathtaking views and charming coastal villages attract visitors from all over the world to the Cinque Terre. In recent years, the popularity of these places has grown so much that the coastal hiking trail has become a problem. The hiking trail is steep and narrow and requires sure-footedness. To counteract mass tourism, a one-way system is now being introduced.

The coastal hike along the Cinque Terre on the Riviera in the northern Italian region of Liguria leads through a unique cultural landscape to the medieval villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, which were spectacularly built into the steep cliffs above the sea. 

One of the most popular hiking routes, the "Sentiero Verde Azzurro" (Green and Blue Path), will be one-way from April 25 to May 1, from 9 am to 2 pm. The measure, which was decided for safety reasons and to improve the use of the path, affects the stretch from Monterosso to Vernazza.

One-way regulation applies on (national) holidays
The one-way regulation, which was already tested last year, applies on days when a particularly large influx of tourists is expected due to national holidays in Italy.

Staff check footwear
In order to regulate access to the hiking trail, checks are carried out by specialist staff at the entrance to Monterosso. Among other things, they check whether visitors are wearing the right footwear for the hike on the steep paths.

Venice asks tourists to pay from April 25
New measures against excessive crowds will also be introduced in Venice on Thursday. The lagoon city, which has become a symbol of mass tourism, is testing a controversial fee system for day tourists for the first time.

Operations will begin on April 25, a national holiday in Italy. All visitors who want to visit the lagoon city between 8.30 a.m. and 4 p.m. will have to pay the special fee of five euros.