The first stage of the multi-day tour takes us from Cardano to Collepietra, part of the first European Star Village
Image gallery: Hike on the Pearl Trail from Cardano to Collepietra
The Pearl Trail is an 86-kilometre path that connects idyllic villages in the Val d'Ega and the Alpe di Siusi area, combining mountains and beautiful natural surroundings in a multi-day hike. It is recommended as a five-day circular tour and shows you Nova Ponente, Nova Levante, Collepietra, and Tires, including the natural beauty of the Catinaccio and Latemar massifs.
We decide to hike the first stage of the tour, which leads from Cardano near Bolzano to Collepietra. The first stage would typically end in Tires, but we are shortening it slightly. We start in Cardano - which is easily accessible by public transport - and follow the signs for "Cornedo/Sentiero delle Perle", partly on asphalt and partly on gravel roads. After about 40 minutes, we reach the small village of Cornedo all'Isarco, surrounded by vineyards where the region's Valle Isarco wine is produced. The path now leads into the forest, and we hike towards the ruins of Collepietra.
The castle ruins of Collepietra, of which only some of the walls remain, are one of the few double castle complexes (a residential and a fortified castle) in South Tyrol and date from the 12th and 13th centuries. We follow the forest path steadily upwards, as the first spring flowers poke their heads through the soil. After 2.5 hours, we reach a plateau with a viewpoint at an altitude of 750 metres. Between the trees, the majestic Sciliar and the mountain village of Collepietra can be seen.
The route continues steeply downhill and then follows a steady series of ups and downs along the edge of the meadows until we reach Collepietra. The mountain village is part of the first European Star Village - the sky over the Val d'Ega is ideal for stargazing. The Max Valier Observatory and the South Tyrol Planetarium, as well as the Planet Trail and the Star Trail, are all located in this area.
For the return journey, we choose a detour and take a break at the playground with its rocket tree house before returning to Cardano along the same route. We reach Cardano after 4.5 hours of hiking. This does not include the breaks we enjoyed in the Val d'Ega.
Authors: Elena & Luca
Experienced in: March 2021
Last updated: 2025
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- Starting point:
- Cardano near Bolzano (260 m a.s.l.)
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- Overall time:
- 04:30 h
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- Total route length:
- 16,4 km
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- Altitude:
- from 260 m to 825 m
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- Altitude difference:
- +956 m | -956 m
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- Signposts:
- "Perlenweg / Sentiero delle Perle", 1, 2
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- Destination:
- Collepietra (825 m a.s.l.)
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- Resting points:
- bars and restaurants in Cornedo and Collepietra
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- Recommended time of year:
- Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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- Download GPX track:
- Hike on the Pearl Trail from Cardano to Collepietra
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- More information:
- The hike is not technically difficult, but at 4.5 hours of walking time, it requires a degree of stamina. The overall time shown above refers to the walking time only, not including breaks.
If you want to undertake this hike, we recommend you to check the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before setting out.
