Città di Milano alpine hut

The Città di Milano alpine hut (German: Schaubachhütte, Italian: Rifugio Città di Milano) is a mountain refuge in the Ortler Alps of South Tyrol, northern Italy. It sits at 2,581 metres above sea level near the Suldenferner glacier at the head of the Sulden valley, within the Stelvio National Park. The nearest settlement is Sulden, part of the municipality of Stilfs. The hut serves as a base for numerous summit tours in the Ortler main ridge and the Laaser Mountains, including peaks such as Cevedale, Eisseespitze, Hintere Schöntaufspitze, Königspitze and Zufallspitzen. It is also a waypoint for transitions to nearby huts including the Hintergrathütte, Casati-Hütte, Pizzini-Frattola-Hütte, and into the Martell valley. The original hut was built in 1875–1876 by the Vienna-based Alpine Gesellschaft "Wilde Bande" and named after the German alpine researcher Adolf Schaubach. It was purchased in 1888 by the Hamburg section of the DuÖAV and expanded in 1892 and 1896. During World War I the hut was completely destroyed in combat. After the war, the remains were given to the Milan section of the CAI, and donations from Milanese citizens funded a new building designed by Piero Portaluppi, completed in 1926 under the name Rifugio Città di Milano. Since 1975 the mountain station of the Sulden cable car has stood nearby. In 1999, along with 24 other expropriated mountain huts, the Schaubachhütte passed into the ownership of the Autonomous Province of Bozen – South Tyrol; the CAI's concession to manage it expired at the end of 2010. From 2015 the province was assisted in administration by a parity commission including the AVS and CAI. In 2021 the provincial government decided to offer the hut for sale, and in August 2024 the now-empty building was put out to tender. The hut remains a notable landmark and base for alpinism in the Ortler region.

The Città di Milano alpine hut, known in German as Schaubachhütte, has a history dating back to the late 19th century. A first hut was built in 1875–1876 by the Alpine Gesellschaft "Wilde Bande" from Vienna, but it was not operated commercially. It was named after the German alpine researcher Adolf Schaubach. In 1888 the hut was purchased by the Hamburg section of the DuÖAV (German and Austrian Alpine Club) and expanded in 1892 and 1896. During World War I, the hut was completely destroyed in combat. After the war, the remains of the Schaubachhütte were given to the Milan section of the CAI (Club Alpino Italiano). Donations from the Milanese citizenry enabled a new building designed by Piero Portaluppi, which was completed in 1926 under the name Rifugio Città di Milano. Since 1975, the mountain station of the Sulden cable car has been located near the hut. In 1999, together with 24 other mountain huts expropriated by the state, the Schaubachhütte passed into the ownership of the Autonomous Province of Bozen – South Tyrol; the CAI's concession to manage it expired at the end of 2010. From 2015, the province was supported in the administration of the hut (leasing to tenants, supervision of management, renovation measures) by a parity commission in which, alongside the public sector, the AVS (Alpenverein Südtirol) and the CAI were represented. In 2021 the provincial government decided to offer the hut for sale. In August 2024, the now-empty building was put out to tender for sale.

• 2024

  Empty building put out to tender for sale in August.

• 2021

  Provincial government decided to offer the hut for sale.

• 2015

  Province supported in hut administration by a parity commission including AVS and CAI.

• 2010

  CAI's concession to manage the hut expired at the end of the year.

• 1999

  Hut transferred to the ownership of the Autonomous Province of Bozen – South Tyrol along with 24 other huts.

• 1975

  Mountain station of the Sulden cable car opened near the hut.

• 1926

  New building completed under the name Rifugio Città di Milano, designed by Piero Portaluppi.

• 1915

  Hut completely destroyed during World War I combat.

• 1896

  Hut expanded again.

• 1892

  Hut expanded.

• 1888

  Hut purchased by the Hamburg section of the DuÖAV.

• 1876

  First hut built by the Alpine Gesellschaft "Wilde Bande" from Vienna.

Historic alpine refuge and base for mountaineering in the Ortler Alps, owned by the Autonomous Province of Bozen – South Tyrol.

• Alpine hut accommodation

• Mountain refuge services

• Food and beverage for hikers

1. 1Città di Milano alpine hut - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Schaubachhütte - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org