Demanding hike from Laives/Leifers via the Via Crucis with its 14 stations to the pilgrimage site of Madonna di Pietralba in Nova Ponente/Deutschnofen.
The old pilgrimage path no. 1 to Madonna di Pietralba/Maria Weißenstein, South Tyrol's most famous place of pilgrimage, begins at "Haus Emmaus", at the entrance to the Brantental valley. During the ascent, the hiker is offered a beautiful view of the southern lowlands.
After a two-hour hike from Laives/Leifers you reach the former inn "Halbweg" (dilapidated farmhouse, 967m). At the XI station of the pilgrim's path, another path branches off, which leads through the forest up to the picturesque village of Monte San Pietro/Petersberg, which can be reached from Laives/Leifers in 3.5 hours. If you stay on path no. 1, you will reach the inn "Munter" after 15 minutes and immediately afterwards a road, which you have to cross. In the following final section, the path leads moderately uphill to the pilgrimage site Madonna di Pietralba/Maria Weissenstein (1521 m) with a view of the unique mountain scenery of the Dolomites.
Return by bus: Take bus line 142 from "Pietralba/Weissenstein" to the "Via delle Dolomiti" busstop in Montagna/Montan, then bus line 140 and to the bus stop "Via degli Olmi" in Ora/Auer. Finally, take line 120 from there in the direction of Bolzano/Bozen to Laives(Leifers.
We recommend to wear sturdy walking shoes.
There are no places to stop for refreshments along the way: make sure you take enough water and provisions with you!
Arrival by public transport from Bolzano/Bozen: by bus with the lines 110, 111 or 112 until the bus stop "Laives Centro/Leifers Zentrum" (approx. 30 min.).
Arrival by public transport from the south: take bus line 120 to the bus stop "Laives Centro/Leifers Zentrum".
Return from Nova Ponente/Deutschnofen to Laives/Leifers: by bus with the line 142 from "Pietralba/Weissenstein" to the "Rio Trodena/Trudnerbach" busstop in Egna/Neumarkt and from there take line 120 in the direction of Bolzano/Bozen and get off at the "Laives Centro/Leifers Zentrum" bus stop.