The Dolorama long-distance trail begins on the Rodengo Alp above Chivo with its impressive panoramas
Remains of fortified settlements and ancient resting places for Mesolithic hunters show that people were active on the plateau of Rodengo thousands of years ago. Today, Chivo (Gifen) is one of the component localities that make up Rodengo, situated below the Rodengo Alp.
The neighbouring municipality is Luson. Thanks to its slightly elevated position, Chivo is a sunny place whose originally compact village layout is still well preserved. Farmhouses with names like Hosp, Leier, and Oberhuber shape the appearance of the hamlet with their private chapels and farmhouse gardens. Just a few minutes' drive from this rural tranquillity, a different scene unfolds: In the valley, the Rio Pusteria Fortress guards the entrance to the Val Pusteria, while the nearby small town of Bressanone bustles with activity. Above Chivo lies the Rodengo-Luson Alp.
It is an expansive hiking plateau with wooden huts scattered across alpine meadows. And this is also the starting point of the Dolorama trail, a long-distance hike divided into four daily stages. Offering an impressive panorama of the Dolomites, it leads around the Sasso Putia, along the foot of the Odle Group, and across the Rasciesa in the Val Gardena to Laion in the Valle Isarco.
Along the way, mountain huts invite hikers to stop for hearty meals. The combination of wide-ranging views, outdoor activity, and good food makes the hike a thoroughly rewarding experience. These four stages of the Dolorama long-distance trail do not involve any climbing sections.
