Rifugio Bartolomeo Gastaldi

Rifugio Bartolomeo Gastaldi is a mountain hut (rifugio) in the Graian Alps of the Piedmont region of northern Italy, owned and operated by the Turin Section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI). It sits at the head of the Val d'Ala within the municipality of Balme, in the Metropolitan City of Turin. The hut is named after the geologist Bartolomeo Gastaldi and has served as a base for mountaineers since the late 19th century. The first rifugio was built in 1880 as a starting point for climbers of the CAI Turin Section, enlarged in 1886 to 35 places, and named after Gastaldi. A new, comparatively luxurious building with central heating and hot water followed in 1904; it burned down in 1908, was rebuilt in 1930, and was destroyed on 3 October 1944 by fascist special units during anti-partisan operations. The present structure dates from 1970. Today the original early hut serves as a winter camp and houses a small museum. As a commercial hospitality offering, the rifugio provides seasonal accommodation, typically open for the summer season (the official site lists a summer opening from 19 June to 15 September) and for spring ski-mountaineering periods. It offers half-board packages with discounted online booking and further discounts for CAI members, and accepts reservations with a deposit. The hut is a staging point for classic alpine ascents and traverses, including the Uia di Ciamarella (3,676 m), Uia di Bessanese (3,597 m), Albaron di Savoia (3,638 m) and Monte Collerin (3,475 m), and lies on routes such as the Tour della Bessanese linking to the Rifugio Luigi Cibrario and the Refuge d'Avérole. Access on foot from Pian della Mussa in the Val d'Ala takes about two and a half hours. The rifugio maintains a digital presence through its website and social media, promoting initiatives such as #LibriInQuota (books at altitude) and #ZAINOINSPALLA, and engaging its community with webcams, weather information and online booking. It remains a working alpine refuge and a piece of Italian mountaineering heritage.

The Rifugio Bartolomeo Gastaldi was established by the Turin Section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) as a base for its mountaineers. The first hut was built in 1880 at the head of the Val d'Ala, in what is now the municipality of Balme in the Metropolitan City of Turin, Piedmont. In 1886 it was enlarged to accommodate 35 places and was named after the geologist Bartolomeo Gastaldi. That early building today serves as a winter camp and contains a small museum. A new hut was constructed in 1904, considered very luxurious for its time, with central heating and hot water. It burned down in 1908. It was rebuilt in 1930, but on 3 October 1944 it was destroyed by fascist special units during anti-partisan operations in the region. The current rifugio was built in 1970. Throughout its existence the hut has functioned as a starting point and waypoint for climbers and hikers in the Graian Alps. It lies at the valley head of the Val d'Ala, reachable on foot from Pian della Mussa in about two and a half hours. It is connected to other refuges via routes such as the Tour della Bessanese, linking to the Rifugio Luigi Cibrario and the Refuge d'Avérole, and serves as a base for summits including the Uia di Ciamarella (3,676 m), Uia di Bessanese (3,597 m), Albaron di Savoia (3,638 m) and Monte Collerin (3,475 m). In the present day the rifugio operates as a seasonal hospitality business under the CAI Turin Section. Its official website advertises a summer season opening from 19 June to 15 September, online booking with a reduced half-board price, and a double discount for CAI members. It also promotes community initiatives such as #LibriInQuota and #ZAINOINSPALLA, and provides webcam and weather information for visitors.

• 1970

  Current rifugio constructed.

• 1944

  Hut destroyed on 3 October by fascist special units during anti-partisan operations.

• 1930

  Hut rebuilt.

• 1908

  The 1904 hut burned down.

• 1904

  New, comparatively luxurious hut built with central heating and hot water.

• 1886

  Hut enlarged to 35 places and named after geologist Bartolomeo Gastaldi.

• 1880

  First rifugio built by the CAI Turin Section as a base for mountaineers.

A historic, CAI-affiliated alpine refuge offering seasonal hospitality and a base for mountaineering and ski-mountaineering in the Graian Alps.

• Half-board accommodation (Mezza Pensione)

  Standard half-board stay listed at €69.

• Online half-board

  Discounted online half-board listed at €59.

• Online half-board for CAI members

  Further discounted online half-board for CAI members listed at €49.

1. 1Rifugio Gastaldi – Valli di Lanzo (To)rifugiogastaldi.com
2. 2Rifugio Bartolomeo Gastaldi – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Rifugio Bartolomeo Gastaldi – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org