While walking from the Porto Turistico to the town center of Salerno last week, I noticed something that I had missed while making this same walk many times before. Along the railing overlooking the water there were bunches of locks, like the small ones you might use to lock a bike chain or a locker.

Looking closer I saw that each one had the names of a couple written on it, often with hearts or other sentimental sayings. This must be the Salerno version of the age-old tradition of young lovers carving their names on trees. 

I have to admit it is far better than the graffiti versions you find all over Italy painted on walls or scribbled on the back of bus seats.

This doesn’t permanently damage anything, and the lock actually has a sweet sentiment to it. I don’t think I’d like to be the person that must occasionally come along and cut all these off. I would be wondering what happened with Luigi & Ilaria and how things were going with Marianna & Vincenzo.

Talking with people recently, I’ve learned that this is very popular in the Naples area, and also in Rome and Florence. I would love to see photos! Has anyone seen this outside Italy?