Rifugio Carlo Franchetti

Rifugio Carlo Franchetti is a high-altitude mountain hut (rifugio) in the Gran Sasso d'Italia massif of the Abruzzo Apennines, Italy. Situated at 2,433 metres above sea level, it is the highest refuge in the Gran Sasso massif and the highest in the entire Apennine range. It stands on a ridge within the glacial cirque known as the Vallone delle Cornacchie, wedged between the Corno Grande and the Corno Piccolo, in the municipality of Pietracamela, above the locality of Prati di Tivo, on the Teramo side of the massif. The hut lies within the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, roughly 40 minutes' walk below the remnants of the Calderone Glacier, the only glacier in the Apennines. The refuge is owned and operated by the Rome Section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI), Italy's national alpine association. It was built by the CAI Rome Section from 1958 and officially opened in 1960. It is named after Carlo Franchetti, an alpinist and speleologist, and should not be confused with the refuge near Cortina d'Ampezzo that also bore his name until the early 1970s and has since been known as Rifugio Son Forca. The hut was partially renovated in 2017. Rifugio Carlo Franchetti offers 22 sleeping places and is typically open from the beginning of June to the end of September. Outside the summer season, from October to May, it opens on request for groups of at least 15 people, on weekends and public holidays. The refuge can only be reached on foot, requiring at least an hour of walking in summer and considerably more in winter. It serves as a base for ascents of the Corno Grande and Corno Piccolo, and from it the view stretches across the foothills of the Abruzzo Apennines to the Adriatic Sea. Access routes include the path from Prati di Tivo (1,450 m) via the La Madonnina cable-car station and then trail 103 (about 2 hours), from the La Madonnina station (2,015 m) on trail 103 (about 1 hour), and from Campo Imperatore (2,120 m) on trails 101 and 103 (about 2.5–3 hours). The hut also connects to neighbouring refuges: Rifugio Garibaldi (2,230 m) on trails 103 and 101 in about 1.5 hours, Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi (2,388 m) on trails 103 and 161 in about 2 hours, and Bivacco Bafile (2,669 m) on trail 103 and the Bafile via ferrata in about 2.5 hours. The refuge maintains an official website with information on opening periods, routes, tariffs, and bookings, and its keeper has been the subject of a docufilm and book titled "Chi apre serra, quarant'anni da rifugista al Gran Sasso."

Rifugio Carlo Franchetti was built by the Rome Section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) starting in 1958 and officially opened in 1960. It was named after Carlo Franchetti, an alpinist and speleologist. The refuge is not to be confused with the hut near Cortina d'Ampezzo that also bore his name until the early 1970s and has since been known as Rifugio Son Forca. The hut was partially renovated in 2017. It remains owned and operated by the CAI Rome Section and is the highest refuge in the Gran Sasso massif and the entire Apennines, located at 2,433 m in the Vallone delle Cornacchie between the Corno Grande and Corno Piccolo. The refuge has 22 sleeping places and is typically open from early June to late September, with winter openings on request for groups of at least 15 people. It serves as a starting point for ascents of the Corno Grande and Corno Piccolo and offers views extending to the Adriatic Sea. The keeper of the refuge has been the subject of a docufilm and book, "Chi apre serra, quarant'anni da rifugista al Gran Sasso."

• 2017

  The refuge undergoes partial renovation.

• 1960

  Rifugio Carlo Franchetti is officially opened.

• 1958

  Construction of the refuge by the CAI Rome Section begins.

The highest mountain hut in the Gran Sasso massif and the Apennines, a historic CAI refuge serving as a base for alpine ascents and high-altitude hiking.

• Overnight accommodation (22 beds)

• Meals and refreshments for hikers

• Summer opening June–September

• Winter group bookings (min. 15 people)

1. 1Home - Rifugio Carlo Franchettirifugiofranchetti.it
2. 2Rifugio Carlo Franchetti - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Rifugio Franchetti - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org