pporter

Four tourists were injured yesterday, one seriously, when very large boulders fell on them while they were walking the flat path between Manarola and Riomaggiore, the so-called via dell'Amore. Although parts of that path are protected overhead by concrete, this section was not.

The park director was quoted saying that they worried that the rainy season, now just starting in le Cinque Terre, would increase the dangers of more rocks falling.

People who travel there should not walk on the paths EVER if it is raining, or start out on a hike if the weather forecast is for rain. If signs indicated trails are closed, even in dry weather, do not walk on them for your own safety.

nytraveler

I hope the signs are in multiple languages as well as images - given how many people travel without a word of foreign languages.

(We had to explain to an American driver in Italy what senso unico meant (even with the giant arrow). Isn't it obvious?

Peter_S_Aus

"senso unico" = "brains of a unicorn"

EVERYONE knows that.

kja

I thought "brains of a unicorn" was the original, more narrow meaning, Peter_S_Aus, and that "senso unico" is now more commonly used to refer to a unique sense (or sensibility). So, nytraveler, a big arrow together with "senso unico" would obviously mean something like "go that way for the road less traveled" or "unique experience that-a-way." Maybe we should tell people who ask about the "hidden gems" or "off-the-beaten path corners" of major tourist destinations to ask directions to a "senso unico" ;-) (Sorry, it's been a very long day!)

Thanks, pporter, for the unfortunate news and the very important warning.

john183

Thoughts and prayers for the injured folks from Australia. Hope they all have a speedy recovery. We were just there last May and really enjoyed the villages and the walk along the Via dell'Amore. We also really liked the absolutely unbelievably gorgeous walk on the high trail between Manarola and Corniglia. What an incredible and beautiful place. The villages are making a good comeback from last year's terrible floods - I hope this doesn't set them back too much.

mamcalice

How unfortunate and on the easiest and probably the most frequently used portion of the trails.

We walked the entire trail from Monterossa to Riomaggiore in September of 2008. We had a bit of rain between Vernazza and Corniglia and the trail was very slippery and difficult footing, even in hiking shoes. I wouldn't venture onto any of the trails if it is raining or has rained recently. We didn't think the trails were very will maintained. In situations like that it is probably better to take the train and the boat to get a good view of the 5 towns.

pporter

>>We didn't think the trails were very will maintained.<<

It is next to impossible for these tiny localities to "maintain" these incredibly steep hillside trails given the fact that now millions of tourists tromp on them year round.

>> In situations like that it is probably better to take the train and the boat to get a good view of the 5 towns.<<

The tourist boats between the towns don't operate when it is unsafe for them to dock in the tiny harbors, and therefore seldom run when it rains, due to choppy waters. But if you arrive in the days after rainstorms, the boats may be running.