The historic Kunter Trail from the 14th century now leads as a hiking path through the gorge between Cardano and Colma
Image gallery: Colma
The village of Colma (Kollmann) may look inconspicuous today, but it was very important in the past. Today, it remains in the memory of everyone travelling along the Valle Isarco road, as the chequered Friedburg Castle stands in the middle of the village. It is an old customs station. Its history begins in 1482, when Sigismund, Archduke of Austria, commissioned the construction of a customs station whose building should also protect the treasures from robbers and radiate power.
Many nobles and kings stopped here, because anyone who wanted to be crowned emperor had to go to the Pope in Rome. The road there, the main connection between Italy and Europe, led through Colma and through the gates of Friedburg Castle. At that time, the Kunter Path was only newly built. For centuries before that, the old "Kaiserstrasse" (Emperor's Road) led from Colma up to the Renon High Plateau and to Bolzano, because the Isarco Gorge was still swampy at that time. Goethe also knew Colma, he mentions it in his diary of the "Italian Journey".
Today, the holiday resort nestles on the gentle, sunny slopes of the lower Isarco Valley. Historic paths, waterfalls, farm inns and vineyards are scattered throughout the area - the Colma and Barbiano round tour on the sunny slopes of the Valle Isarco shows you everything. In the village, you can visit the St. Leonard Church with its façade bell wall and the Holy Trinity Church, which used to be known as the Customs Chapel. The historic "Gegenschreiberhaus" behind the castle, where the customs officer used to sign the documents, houses the library and the club house.
