Hike from Aldino to the Pietralba Pilgrimage Site

We'd like to conclude this August week around the Feast of the Assumption with something special - so we decide to combine a short hike with a mountain breakfast on this stunning summer morning. We leave our car at the parking space in Lerch, a district of Aldino (Aldein) near the "Grand Canyon of South Tyrol", the Rio delle Foglie Gorge. Our hike starts at the Malga Schönrast parking space, located right behind the well-known mountain inn Schmieder Alm. We follow the flat forest trail into the woods and after some minutes walking time we see the Malga Schönrast mountain hut (1,697 m a.s.l.) in front of us. Here we stop for a delicious mountain breakfast, made of coffee, sweet treats, cheese and ham, cake, bread and fresh fruit. The bright August sun and the ringing of the cowbells do the rest for an unforgettable morning amidst the mountain pastures of the Monte Regolo high plateau. And while the temperatures in the valley exceed 30° C, here at almost 1,700 m a.s.l. it is so cool, that a light jacket should not be missing.

After our delicious breakfast we follow the signpost "Pietralba" into the woods and continue our walk on the left-hand side on a stony downhill path. After 30 minutes and 180 m of altitude difference we see the Madonna di Pietralba Pilgrimage Site beneath us. The Baroque basilica, the "Cathedral in the Dolomites", is flanked by the associated white monastery. The widely visible highlight became famous after the visit of Pope John Paul II in summer 1988. After a break we follow the same path uphill to the Malga Schönrast mountain hut and back to our parking space. On the way back we need about 40 minutes due to the fact that now the first section of the path leads steeply upwards. This hike can be extended, e.g. by visiting the Rio delle Foglie Gorge or by choosing the (longer) path no. 10 to return to the parking space.

Author: MS