1. Brennero – Vipiteno

The first stage of the Via Romea Germanica in Italy is short and easy, mostly downhill. We are overlooked by the peaks of the Dolomites; in front of us are the verdant slopes with cultivated fields, small hamlets, and small alpine churches. At the bottom, the Eisack valley. You start either from the Italy-Austria border or from the Brenner train station. As soon as you leave the station, follow the signs for the pedestrian-bike path to Sterzing, which starts behind the Church of St. Valentine and follows the route of the old railway. After a few kilometers you will find the Brennerbad/Brennerbad. There are then 2 tunnels, the old toll booths and the Ponticolo station; you reach the end of the pedo-cycleway and descend to Eisack Pass/Gossensass which can be seen below. (Bicyclists, at the second hairpin bend, take the bicycle path to Ibsenplatz; they underpass the railroad, pass Gattern, take Via Pflersch, cross Colle Isarco and continue on Via Faber; they underpass the highway and continue along the railroad to Novale. They resume by making part of the SS12 / Brennerstrasse and arrive directly in Sterzing). At Colle Isarco the cemetery is encountered. Having visited the Chapel of St. Barbara, you descend the miners’ staircase. You arrive on the Brennerstrasse; pass under the highway. Trail No. 21 leads into a beautiful coniferous forest. Coming out of the forest, you arrive at Strasberg Castle. You descend to the small farming village of Novale di Sopra walking through meadows and various crops. After several paths you come in sight of Sterzing. Descend to the railway, which you follow for a stretch, underpass it, cross the Eisack River and arrive in the main square of Sterzing, under the Tower of the Twelve/Zwölferturm.