As of: March 18, 2024, 9:00 a.m
By: Franziska Kaindl
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Don't get caught wearing flip-flops on the hiking trails of the Cinque Terre.
There have been too many accidents in the past.
The Cinque Terre, a rocky stretch of coast between Levanto and La Spezia, characterized by its five picturesque, colorful coastal villages, is a popular destination for holidaymakers.
Thousands of tourists flock to the area from the cruise ships alone - but caught up in the holiday fever, not many of them apparently pay attention to appropriate clothing.
Holidaymakers regularly wear flip-flops, especially on the hiking trails.
This was particularly a thorn in the side of the director of the Cinque Terre National Park.
Therefore, he announced in 2019 that there would be fines for careless hikers in the future.
Tourists underestimate hiking routes in the Cinque Terre National Park
The coastal hiking trail offers great views of the Cinque Terre.
© YAY Images/Imago
According to the Italian newspaper Repubblica
, avoidable helicopter missions have occurred
too often because tourists underestimated the route along the coast and set off with minimal equipment.
“The basic problem is that too many people think they are by the sea and can therefore walk around in flip-flops as if they were in Riccione (
editor's note
: a holiday resort near Rimini),” complained Patrizio Scarpellini, the park's director, according to
Repubblica
at the time.
“But this is a real mountain, with all its pitfalls, even if it overlooks the blue.”
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The coastal hiking trail “Sentierio Azzurro”, the blue path, which connects the five coastal villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, is particularly popular.
It was created over the centuries by the inhabitants to make it easier to get from one place to another.
Up to 2,500 euros fine for flip-flop hikers
In order to minimize the risk of accidents and helicopter operations in the area, there is now a risk of a fine if you enter the hiking trails with flip-flops and other light footwear.
The fines range between 50 and 2,500 euros - so they can put a real dent in your vacation budget.
Vacationers who wanted to explore the Cinque Terre this year should make sure they have the right hiking shoes with them.
In the summer of 2018 alone, around 450,000 cruise tourists visited the coast.
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Incidentally, excessive crowds of visitors are also causing problems for the fishing town of Portofino, not far from the Cinque Terre.
Last year, tourists had to pay a fine if they stayed too long in the so-called “red zones”.