Rifugio Bietti Buzzi

Rifugio Bietti Buzzi is a historic alpine mountain hut (rifugio) owned by the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) and located at 1,719 metres above sea level in the Conca del Releccio, in the heart of the Northern Grigna (Grignone) massif above Lake Como, in the municipality of Mandello del Lario, Lombardy, Italy. It belongs to the CAI Sezione Grigne of Mandello del Lario and serves as a base for mountaineers, climbers and hikers exploring the Grigne group. The hut was originally built in 1886 under the name Capanna Releccio, initiated by Carlo Magnaghi, Tranquillo Magriglio and Piero Fontana, and inaugurated on 3 October of that year. It was later renamed in honour of Louis Bietti, a former president of the Milan section of the CAI, and subsequently also took the name Buzzi. During the Second World War the building was used as the headquarters of a partisan detachment, the Cacciatori delle Grigne (later the 89th Poletti Brigade), and was destroyed by Nazi-Fascist forces in October 1944. It was rebuilt in 1950 and renovated in 2008 by the CAI Sezione Grigne. After a period of closure due to financial difficulties in 2002, the hut was purchased in 2006 by Elena Buzzi and donated to the CAI Mandello section; between 2006 and 2009 it underwent a comprehensive restoration that added a water tank and a winter room. Today the rifugio operates as a bar, restaurant and guesthouse with a spacious dining room, bedrooms and bathrooms. Since 2015 it has been run by Marco Madama and his team, who offer a menu of traditional lake specialities prepared with fresh local ingredients. The hut is a departure point for summer and winter mountaineering routes to the summit of the Grignone, historic climbing routes on Sasso Cavallo and Sasso dei Carbonari, and newer bolted crags on the Piancaformia ridge. It is also a vantage point for observing wildlife such as roe deer, chamois and black grouse, and forms a stage on the Sentiero delle Grigne long-distance trail and the Trofeo Scaccabarozzi mountain race.

The mountain hut was built in 1886, at a time when mountaineers were already accustomed to sleeping in a small stable in the area. The inauguration took place on 3 October 1886. The men whose idea it was and who directed the work were Carlo Magnaghi, Tranquillo Magriglio and Piero Fontana, and the name they chose was Capanna Releccio. It had two separate entrances: one opened onto a room which was always open and anyone was free to enter, whereas the other led into two rooms reserved for CAI members only. Restoration work carried out in 1904 led to the closure of the public room and expanded the capacity of the other two. It was on this occasion that it was decided to find a full-time manager. Later the hut was renamed after Louis Bietti, the former president of the Milan section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI). During the Second World War, like all the mountain huts in the area, what was then known as Releccio and is now Bietti Buzzi became the headquarters of a detachment of partisans, the Cacciatori delle Grigne (later the 89th Poletti Brigade), in 1943. Made up of a dozen men, it provided the patrol for Bocchetta di Prada to watch over the valley of the same name and the Vò di Moncodeno which looks towards Valsassina. Built to accommodate mountaineers heading for the summit of the Northern Grigna (Grignone), far from the trails which connect the different valleys, it was destroyed by the Nazi-Fascists in October 1944. It was rebuilt in 1950 and renovated in 2008 by the CAI Sezione Grigne of Mandello del Lario. In 2002 the hut had to be closed due to lack of funds. In 2006 it was purchased by Elena Buzzi and donated to the CAI Mandello section. Between 2006 and 2009 it underwent a comprehensive revision and received a water tank (water shortage due to limestone) as well as a winter room. Since 2015 Marco Madama and his team have been running the historic mountain hut and offering traditional lake dishes.

• 2015

  Marco Madama and his team begin running the hut.

• 2008

  Renovated by the CAI Sezione Grigne of Mandello del Lario.

• 2006

  Hut purchased by Elena Buzzi and donated to the CAI Mandello section.

• 2002

  Hut closed due to lack of funds.

• 1950

  Hut rebuilt.

• 1944

  Hut destroyed by Nazi-Fascist forces in October.

• 1943

  Hut becomes headquarters of a partisan detachment, the Cacciatori delle Grigne (later 89th Poletti Brigade).

• 1904

  Restoration work closes the public room and expands member rooms; decision to hire a full-time manager.

• 1886

  Mountain hut built and inaugurated on 3 October as Capanna Releccio.

A historic CAI mountain hut in the Grigne group, positioned as a base for mountaineering and a destination for traditional Lake Como cuisine.

• Overnight accommodation

  Bedrooms and bathroom for guests.

• Traditional lake cuisine

  Wide selection of typical lake dishes prepared with fresh, wholesome ingredients.

• Bar

  Bar service for guests and visitors.

1. 1Rifugio Bietti Buzzi – Un rifugio ai piedi della Grigna Settentrionalerifugiobiettibuzzi.it
2. 2Rifugio Bietti Buzzi en - Rifugio Bietti Buzzirifugiobiettibuzzi.it
3. 3Rifugio Biettiwikidata.org
4. 4Biettihüttede.wikipedia.org