Rifugio Giovanni e Olinto Marinelli

Rifugio Giovanni e Olinto Marinelli is a historic alpine refuge (Italian: rifugio alpino) in the Carnic Alps of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, north-eastern Italy. Situated at 2,120 metres above sea level below the Hohe Warte (Monte Coglians group) near the Forcella Moraret pass, it lies within the municipality of Paluzza and close to the Austrian border. It is the highest alpine shelter in the Carnic Alps. The hut is owned and operated by the Società Alpina Friulana (SAF), a section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI), and is named after Giovanni Marinelli, the geologist and geographer who was the first president of the SAF, and his son Olinto Marinelli, who also served as president of the society. The original masonry building was erected in 1901 on the eastern side of the Furcella Moraret pass. It measured roughly 5 by 9 metres and could accommodate twelve alpinists and one mountain guide. Its activity was interrupted from 1914 to 1922 because of the First World War. In 1927, following the death of Olinto Marinelli, the SAF decided to invest a memorial fund in the hut and renamed it Ricovero Giovanni Marinelli e Olinto Marinelli. A wing was added the same year, separating the kitchen from the common room and adding a dormitory; the enlarged refuge was inaugurated on 2 September 1928. Post-war tourism growth made the Marinelli hut a popular destination in the province of Udine, with 25 bunks and seven bunk beds at the time. Major renovations followed in 1974, a kitchen relocation in 1985 to expand the bar area for day visitors, and a final renovation in 2001 that brought the capacity to 50 beds and added a large panoramic terrace. The three-storey stone building remains a classic example of early twentieth-century alpine architecture. Today the refuge is a base for hikers and climbers exploring the Carnic Alps. It is reached on foot in about two hours from the end of the paved road near Rifugio Tolazzi (via Collina, from Forni Avoltri), in about two and a half hours from Paluzza via Timau and the Passo di Monte Croce Carnico, in about two and a half hours from Rifugio Chiadinas over Monte Crostis, the Forcella Plumbs and Monte Floriz, or in about one hour from Rifugio Lambertenghi-Romanin via the Volaia pass and the Spinotti path (requiring sure-footedness). Popular ascents from the hut include the Hohe Warte (2,780 m, about two hours, sure-footedness required), the Kellerspitzen (2,769 m, waymarked route 711, with UIAA grade I and II climbing passages) and the Kollinkofel (2,689 m). The refuge offers food, drink and overnight accommodation and is a member of the network of CAI huts. Its official website provides information on prices, menus, excursions, weather and emergency contacts, and notes an opening date of 18 June 2016 for a recent season.

The Rifugio Giovanni e Olinto Marinelli was built in 1901 on the eastern side of the Furcella Moraret pass, in the municipality of Paluzza, by the Società Alpina Friulana (SAF). The original masonry structure had a footprint of approximately 5 by 9 metres and offered shelter for twelve alpinists and one mountain guide. It was named after Giovanni Marinelli, the geologist and geographer who served as the first president of the SAF, and after his son Olinto Marinelli, who also became president of the society. With the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the refuge's activity was interrupted for eight years, resuming only in 1922. In 1927 Olinto Marinelli died. At the subsequent assembly of the SAF, it was decided to invest the sum collected in his memory in the Marinelli hut and to rename it Ricovero Giovanni Marinelli e Olinto Marinelli, thereby preserving the fifty years of work for alpinism carried out by the Marinelli family. The building was extended in 1927 with an additional wing, which separated the kitchen from the common room and added another dormitory. The inauguration of the enlarged refuge took place on 2 September 1928. In the post-war period, tourism increased, and the Rifugio Marinelli, with its 25 bunks and seven bunk beds, became a popular excursion destination in the province of Udine. Further extensive renovation work was carried out in 1974. In 1985 the kitchen was relocated to give more space to the bar counter, an adaptation to the growing number of day visitors relative to overnight guests. The most recent renovation, in 2001, brought the overnight capacity to 50 beds and created a large panoramic terrace. The three-storey building is constructed in solid stone masonry. Access to the hut is on foot. Although it lies in the municipality of Paluzza, it is more easily reached from Forni Avoltri: an asphalted road leads through the hamlet of Collina to the Rifugio Tolazzi, at the end of which there is ample parking; from there a two-hour footpath leads to the Rifugio Marinelli. From Paluzza, via Timau in the direction of the Passo di Monte Croce Carnico on the state road, the subsequent footpath takes about two and a half hours. From the Rifugio Chiadinas the hut is reached in about two and a half hours, crossing the summit of Monte Crostis, the Forcella Plumbs and Monte Floriz. From the Rifugio Lambertenghi-Romanin, via the Volaia pass and the Spinotti path, it takes about one hour, requiring sure-footedness. Popular ascents from the hut include the Hohe Warte (2,780 m, two hours, sure-footedness necessary), the Kellerspitzen (2,769 m, waymarked route 711, with UIAA grade I and II climbing passages) and the Kollinkofel (2,689 m). The refuge remains active and is listed on the website of the Società Alpina Friulana. Its official website provides practical information for visitors, including prices, menus, excursions, weather and emergency contacts, and notes an opening date of 18 June 2016 for a recent season.

• 2016

  Official website notes an opening date of 18 June 2016.

• 2001

  Renovation brings capacity to 50 beds and adds a large panoramic terrace.

• 1985

  Kitchen relocated to expand the bar area for day visitors.

• 1974

  Extensive renovation work carried out.

• 1928

  Enlarged refuge inaugurated on 2 September.

• 1927

  Olinto Marinelli dies; SAF decides to invest memorial funds in the hut and renames it Ricovero Giovanni Marinelli e Olinto Marinelli; a wing is added.

• 1922

  Refuge activity resumes after the war.

• 1914

  Activity interrupted by the outbreak of the First World War.

• 1901

  Original masonry refuge built on the eastern side of the Furcella Moraret pass by the Società Alpina Friulana.

Historic high-altitude alpine refuge and base for Carnic Alps mountaineering, operated by the Società Alpina Friulana.

• Overnight accommodation (50 beds)

• Restaurant and bar service

• Panoramic terrace

• Hiking and climbing base

1. 1Rifugio Giovanni Olinto Marinelli Carniarifugiomarinelli.com
2. 2Rifugio Giovanni e Olinto Marinelliwikidata.org
3. 3Rifugio Giovanni e Olinto Marinellide.wikipedia.org