5. Collalbo – Bolzano

Short but spectacular stage, with few ascent points and many descent points. The beauty of the Earth Pyramids, the churches, the farms, the lakes are a spectacle. From the Renon plateau you can admire the high peaks of the Dolomites. You can go down to Bolzano using the Soprabolzano cable car, avoiding a rather demanding descent. In Collalbo you start from the Renon train station and then take path 35 (or Freud Promenade). A very nice and comfortable route. You reach the Haus Der Familie institute. Shortly after there is the possibility of arriving at Lake Costalovara; but the route follows trail 35 or Freud Promenade. On the left a beautiful wood and on the right large meadows; straight ahead you arrive at the railway and the crossroads with Via Costalovara. Following the tracks you will find Soprabolzano, the Renon train station. A few meters further on is the cable car to Bolzano, very convenient for reaching the capital, especially if you don’t want to face the long descent. Nodal point is the Hotel Post Victoria. (In fact, after the Hotel Post Victoria, cyclists and those who are not interested in the phenomenon of the Earth Pyramids and prefer an easier and less dangerous route, especially in case of bad weather, take Via Maria Assunta (CAI path 2), a panoramic road without traffic that descends into the forest for 7 km, then continues for 3 km on Via Santa Maddalena di Sopra up to Bolzano). Otherwise, take Via della Piscina which leads us to take, steeply downhill, the paved path for the Earth Pyramids, which is slightly off the main route of Via Romea. Going back, we go towards the Church of San Giacomo. Then take path 6: the long descent begins. After a paved stretch, again on the path (Sentiero del Castagno – Keschtnweg); another stretch of asphalt and then take path 2A. Then you meet the CAI 2 path; take the Promenade Sant’Osvaldo, a path equipped for walks outside the city. From there you follow the roads that lead to Piazza del Municipio in the center of Bolzano.