For me, getting lost in the beauty of Italy’s rugged Riviera coastline was the highlight of my day trip to Cinque Terre. Elegant striped umbrellas line the beaches, bright colours paint the towns like an Italian master’s brush, and a long lovers’ walk stretches over the headland.

I sighed with nostalgia for lost loves upon seeing padlocks lining the walks, especially the romantic thought that padlocks signify a life-long bond. Keys thrown from the cliffside to the watery depths for eternity seal the lover’s commitment. Cinque Terre is a romantic part of the country. I think of it as the Italian Riviera’s heart and, like Juliete’s balcony in Verona, is an iconic heart for lovers worldwide.