4. Chiusa – Collalbo

It is a mountain stage, demanding due to its length and difference in height: it climbs up, passing through San Maurizio/Sauders, near the Tre Chiese/Bad Dreikirchen, then Barbiano/Barbian and Santa Verena. It crosses a large part of the Renon/Ritten plateau and reaches Collalbo/Klobenstein. What is special is the phenomenon of the earth pyramids/Erdpyramiden. A look at the beautiful Dolomites with the Odle, the Sassolungo, the Sciliar and the Catinaccio.

Starting from the Church of Sant’Andrea, you pass the Tinne torrent and a path leads to the banks of the Isarco. Along the river you arrive at the SS 12. (cyclists still continue on the cycle path and take the Zargenweg road to Barbiano: 5.30 km) and take the road uphill (Via Brennero 8), reaching a second farm (Oberpartegger) . Resuming walking on the asphalt, you will find a third farm. Then the path leads to San Maurizio. You can go up to the village for a visit to the church. You cross a wooded area, then steeply sloping fields, then forest again and descend into the bed of a deep stream that can be crossed over a small wooden bridge. A steep climb begins, in a beautiful wood, towards Barbiano. Not far from the arrival point there is a small road with the indication Le Tre Chiese (Bad Dreikirchen): three characteristic little churches under a high mountain, certainly a reference point for pilgrims. Continuing on, you reach Barbiano with its monument to the pilgrim in the center of a beautiful fountain. Afterwards, continue on the paved road, almost flat, where you will find a beautiful stream with a beautiful waterfall. You arrive in Saubach, where you can still fill up on water. We reach the foot of the hill where Santa Verena stands, another important point on our journey as a reference point for every pilgrim. (cyclists continue on the road to Longostagno-Longomoso and Collalbo: 8.5 km, crossing the footpath at Penzlhof, at Koblmule, sanctuary of Maria Saal up to the Earth Pyramids). A steep path begins on the right; the effort is repaid by the vision of a small church, the valley below and the Dolomites right in front. The ancient imperial path (Kaiserweg), still partly paved, descends from the hill; cross a clearing and arrive at the Penzlhof farm. Back on the paved road, take path 8A in the middle of the woods; then a farm, other fields, a second company, a third company and you arrive at a paved road. Still climbing in the middle of meadows, woods and more meadows up to an altitude of 1094 a.s.l.; take path 8 downhill to Koblmule, a small village along a stream. Another nice climb on a cobbled path, with scattered Stations of the Cross, towards the Maria Saal Sanctuary Church. We then descend on the Kaiserweg path and nearby are the Earth Pyramids which we follow towards Collalbo. The Earth Pyramids are a particular natural phenomenon. Longomoso welcomes us with a beautiful lake of water lilies, then finally in Collalbo and we go up towards the station.

N.B. For pedestrians: From the Glun Artisanal Area it might be advisable to continue on the cycle path and follow the cycle path up to Barbiano, especially in bad weather and to avoid crossing private properties; unfortunately, asphalt and concrete prevail on this route and some very suggestive environmental features are lost.