Beginning on the shores of beautiful Lake Constance, the long-distance European pathway E5 (approx. 600km in length) makes its way southeast through rural alpine regions in Switzerland, Austria and Italy, to finish in Verona. Passes as high as 2900 metres are encountered in the opening stages that traverse the Allgauer, Lechtaler and ?tztaler Alps en route to the northern Italian city of Bolzano, home to the intriguing Ice Man. Gentler gradients follow as the E5 bears south to run parallel to the mighty Adige river touching on a surprising number of spectacular geological sites, not to mention mountains riddled with tunnels from the First World War.