"Central" stage: crossing the Adige river marks the transition from western to eastern Trentino. Before reaching the river, however, you need to climb the summit of Monte Biaena and face the long descent leading to the valley floor.
Starting from the center of Ronzo Chienis, you quickly climb Monte Biaena under a dense alpine forest to reach the 1618 meters above sea level of the summit, from where you can admire almost the entire Vallagarina and spot Isera, closest on the banks of the Adige, and the town of Rovereto, the stage destination. Leaving the woods and crossing the last sloping meadows of the mountain, you cross the ridge and descend by a rather steep and rocky although short path, arriving quickly at 1000 meters above sea level before glimpsing the first buildings of the village of Lenzima, with the path little far from the characteristic ruins of Castel Corno. After the wooded part, it's a continuous succession of cultivated fields and terraces leading to the center of Isera, capital of the authentic flavors of Vallagarina, where we recommend stopping for a pleasant and tasty lunch break. Crossing the Adige river, you immerse yourself in Borgo Sacco, where the small historic center quickly leads to the larger town of Rovereto, where you can lose yourself for a bit among historic baroque palaces and many points of great cultural interest, foremost the Mart Museum.
In the mountains it is essential to always know where you are: it is good to have with you a digital and/or paper topographic map, as well as a wrist altimeter and a compass (a digital one found on smartphones is also fine). These are useful tools for orientation, but you must know how to use them correctly, so practicing a bit before setting off is necessary! Walking poles are always useful too.
Most of the stage takes place on asphalt. The roads are never overly busy, but you still need to pay attention to passing cars.
The Peace Trail is a high route, not just a simple path: it therefore requires proper preparation and experience. If you are a beginner, rely on a guide!
Before setting out, carefully read our advice on mountain safety
If you love the mountains, you already know how thrilling it can be to hike at altitude, traverse a via ferrata or try climbing: the important thing is to do it safely, with a conscious and careful approach.
To help you remember the correct behavior to adopt, with Dolomiti UNESCO, the Trentino Mountain Hut Managers Association, S.A.T., Mountain Rescue, and the Alpine Guides of Trentino have organized a decalogue with 4 quick guides on different topics.
Before leaving you with the 10 rules to follow for experiencing the mountain safely, we give you one piece of advice that always applies in the mountains: for every activity always use equipment suitable for the altitude and seasonality and follow the advice of those who live and work in and for the mountains!
From the center of Ronzo Chienis we take path 678 and start the long climb towards Monte Biaena. The path goes through the woods, well shaded, with a steady incline. At about 1200 meters we meet the asphalted forest road. Alternating sections of path (some quite steep) and asphalt road, we reach Capanna Biaena, owned by SAT, closed to the public, located just below the Biaena summit (its tables, however, invite a little rest).
From the Biaena summit (1618 meters) we contemplate the Adige valley and the entire town of Rovereto; then we begin the descent along path 673, easy but quite steep, also fully in the woods. Upon sighting some houses, we reach the asphalt road and take it to the right for a few hundred meters; then we take a dirt road on the left, following it for a long time, sometimes passing beside cultivated fields beneath beautiful limestone cliffs. We find the asphalt road again at the northern slopes of Monte Faè, until passing through the center of the Lenzima hamlet.
Leaving the settlement still along the road, at the first hairpin turn, we take an asphalted agricultural road; after walking beside a rocky gorge (from which lovely cool air flows), we quickly descend among rows of vines.
This is how we enter the town of Isera; we cross the fast road on a pedestrian walkway and soon reach the bridge over the Adige river: symbolically, this marks the end of the first half of the Peace Trail - to celebrate the milestone, just after crossing the river we find an excellent ice cream shop, just behind the church on the left of the bridge. Entering among the old houses of the Sacco district (where the river port once was), we take the cycle path running parallel to the Adige; then we turn left, following the Leno stream, always on a very pleasant cycle path. After crossing the train tracks through an underpass, we continue a little on the cycle path, then turn left and reach the heart of Rovereto.
Always prefer a layered dress style, from light to progressively heavier layers. Carry a change of clothes and rainproof and windproof clothing in your backpack, gloves and a hat even if the sun is shining. Don't forget sunglasses and high protection sunscreen, suitable footwear for the activity, a first aid kit, a power bank for charging your phone in case of emergency, and water and food according to the activity.
If you sleep in a mountain hut, bring a sheet sleeping bag or a lightweight sleeping bag, a thermos and a pair of light slippers (if they are not already provided by the hut) and a headlamp.
Before setting out, carefully read our advice on mountain safety