Rifugio Cazzaniga-Merlini

Rifugio Cazzaniga-Merlini is a mountain hut (rifugio) located in the comune of Barzio, in the Valsassina valley of the Orobie Prealps, Lombardy, Italy, at an elevation of 1,889 metres above sea level. It sits on the Artavaggio plateau, a highland area between the Val Taleggio and Valtorta whose altitude ranges from about 1,600 to 2,000 metres. The hut is owned by the Lecco section of the Associazione Nazionale Alpini (ANA), the Italian Alpine troops association, and is a classic stop for hikers and climbers in the region. The rifugio was built between 1927 and 1930 and inaugurated on 29 June 1931. It was originally named in memory of Giuseppe Cazzaniga, an Alpini officer who died in the area. Destroyed in 1944 during wartime events, it was rebuilt and re-inaugurated in 1952, when the new structure was dedicated to the memory of Ugo Merlini, a veteran of the Italian campaign in Russia. This dual dedication gives the hut its full name, Rifugio Cazzaniga-Merlini. The facility has a capacity of about 25 beds and a dining room that can seat up to 70 people. It is open continuously from mid-June to mid-September, and throughout the year on weekends, public holidays and bridge days. It remains closed in May and November, coinciding with the closure of the cable car that serves the area. The surrounding plateau is dotted with malghe and alpeggi (summer farms and pastures) that are still used in summer, where visitors can watch milking and milk processing; local products include Taleggio and Strachitunt (DOP) cheeses and other alpine dairy cheeses. The hut is a key point on the Sentiero delle Orobie: it is the destination of the first stage of the western Orobie path from Cassiglio (marker no. 101, about 4 hours 30 minutes), and from there the route continues to Rifugio Lecco (second stage) via path no. 101 in about 2 hours 30 minutes. Access routes also come from Moggio (about 3 h), Culmine di San Pietro (about 3 h), Cassiglio (about 4 h), Val Taleggio (about 3 h), Valtorta (about 3 h) and Piani di Bobbio (about 2 h via CAI path no. 101 or the Stradini path). Nearby ascents include Monte Sodadura (2,010 m), Cima di Piazzo (2,057 m), Zuccone Campelli (2,161 m), Zucco Barbisino (2,152 m), Zucco Pesciola (2,092 m), Monte Aralalta (2,006 m) and Pizzo Baciamorti (2,009 m). As a brand, Rifugio Cazzaniga-Merlini represents a traditional Italian alpine hospitality offering: accommodation, dining and a base for outdoor activities, operated under the identity of the Alpini association. Its official website, rifugiocazzaniga.it, is currently used as a general travel and lifestyle blog rather than a dedicated hut site, but the hut itself remains an active and well-known mountain refuge in the Lecco area.

The Rifugio Cazzaniga-Merlini was built between 1927 and 1930 and officially inaugurated on 29 June 1931. It was named in memory of Giuseppe Cazzaniga, an Alpini officer who died in the area. During the Second World War, the hut was destroyed in 1944 due to wartime events. After the war it was rebuilt and re-inaugurated in 1952; the new building was dedicated to the memory of Ugo Merlini, a veteran of the Italian campaign in Russia. Since then the hut has operated as a mountain refuge owned by the Lecco section of the Associazione Nazionale Alpini, serving hikers on the Artavaggio plateau and the Sentiero delle Orobie. It remains an active facility with about 25 beds and a 70-seat dining room, open seasonally and on weekends throughout the year.

• 1952

  Hut rebuilt and re-inaugurated, dedicated to Ugo Merlini.

• 1944

  Hut destroyed due to wartime events.

• 1931

  Hut inaugurated on 29 June, named after Giuseppe Cazzaniga.

Traditional alpine mountain hut and hospitality stop in the Orobie Prealps, operated by the Alpini association.

• Mountain hut accommodation (about 25 beds)

• Dining room seating up to 70 people

• Local alpine cheeses such as Taleggio and Strachitunt DOP

1. 1Rifugiocazzaniga.it – Scopri il miglior blog per terifugiocazzaniga.it
2. 2Rifugio Cazzaniga – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Rifugio Cazzaniga-Merlini – Wikipedia (Italian)it.wikipedia.org