On the way from the Valle Isarco to the Rodengo plateau, the small village of San Paolo is the first to greet you
Image gallery: San Paolo di Rodengo
When you leave Rio di Pusteria with the Rio Pusteria Fortress and the reservoir behind you and follow the road uphill, you will soon reach the small village of San Paolo (St. Pauls). This is where the sprawling plateau of Rodengo begins. The village centre of "Pauls" is characterised by historic, well-preserved farmsteads, and the Church of St. Paul reveals the origin of the village's name.
Nearby is the Graa Pond with its accompanying hill, where traces of a prehistoric hillfort have been discovered. To the left, the road leads to Villa, the main village of Rodengo with its sports area, and onwards to Chivo, from where you can reach the Rodengo Alp.
Together with the Luson Alp, it forms one of the largest high plateaux in Europe and provides countless recreational opportunities for the whole family. Numerous huts invite you to stop for refreshments, viewpoints encourage you to linger, and the paths are mostly pleasantly flat.
For ambitious athletes, there is a 17-kilometre trail running route. It starts at the Zumis hiking car park and leads via the Roner Hut, the Pianer Kreuz - or Croce Pianer - Chapel and the Rastner Hut to the panoramic summit of the Giogo d'Asta. On this loop, you will discover the most beautiful spots on the Rodengo Alp. If you are looking for an alternative to hiking on the alp, mountain bike tours around Rodengo are an excellent option. The routes take you, for example, down into the depths of the Rienza Gorge or to the scattered mountain hamlets in the green Val Pusteria.
