Rifugio Laghi Gemelli

Rifugio Laghi Gemelli is an Italian alpine mountain hut (rifugio) owned by the Bergamo section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI). It sits at 1,968 metres above sea level in the upper Brembana Valley, within the municipal area of Branzi in the Province of Bergamo, Lombardy. The hut takes its name from the Laghi Gemelli ("Twin Lakes"), a group of alpine lakes that were later merged into a single artificial reservoir by a dam built in 1932. The surrounding landscape is part of the Orobie Alps and is prized for its scenic, naturalistic and hiking value. The original hut was built between 1899 and 1900 and inaugurated on 1 July 1900. It was a single-storey masonry building with a slate roof, four rooms and 18 beds, set on a grassy knoll with a view of Pizzo del Becco. During the Second World War the hut served as a partisan base; in January 1945 a force of about 300 fascist soldiers climbed from Carona and burned the building to the ground. Reconstruction began in the summer of 1946 on a site about one hundred metres further south, closer to the lake. Designed by architect Carlo Alberto Veneziani and directed by surveyor Emilio Corti, the new hut was completed and inaugurated on 25 July 1948, during celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the local CAI section. Further renovations and extensions followed in later decades. Today the hut is one of the most visited and appreciated in the area. It has around 80 beds, a bar and a restaurant. The management offers hikers and walkers bar and food service as well as accommodation in a youthful and informal atmosphere; the manager, Maurizio, brings twenty years of experience in mountain huts. The kitchen focuses on local products and typical dishes from the valley, including casoncelli, foiade with mushrooms, pappardelle with dark flour, polenta with cheeses or mushrooms, stewed donkey or game, and the traditional Lenna stew. Cheese lovers can sample Taleggio, Gorgonzola, fresh Branzi and Formai dè Mùt, among others, often served on valley cheese platters. Homemade desserts such as strüdel, pear tarts with Valcalepio wine sauce and rye-flour cakes are also offered, alongside a wine list featuring local labels. The hut is open seasonally: from 1 May to 7 June and from 19 September to 1 November it is open on Saturday nights only, while from 13 June to 13 September it is open every day. It is reached by several marked trails, most commonly trail no. 211 from Carona (about 3 hours) via Lago Marcio and Lago di Pian Casere, or trail no. 215 from the Baite di Mezzeno in Roncobello (about 2 hours) over the Passo di Mezzeno. Other approaches include trail no. 212 from Branzi (about 3.5 hours), trail no. 216 from Valcanale in the Seriana Valley (about 4 hours, part of the Sentiero delle Orobie), and routes from Valgoglio via the Sanguigno valley or the Aviasco pass (about 5 hours). The hut is a stage on the Sentiero delle Orobie Orientali: it is the destination of stage 2 from Rifugio Alpe Corte and the start of stage 3 towards Rifugio Fratelli Calvi. Nearby peaks include Pizzo del Becco (2,507 m), Monte Spondone (2,445 m), Monte Corte (2,493 m), Pizzo Farno (2,506 m) and Monte Pradella (2,626 m).

The idea of building a mountain hut in the Brembana Valley was discussed by the Bergamo section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) as early as 1890. The initial proposal was to build it above Carona to facilitate the ascent of Pizzo del Diavolo di Tenda, a function later fulfilled by the Rifugio Calvi in 1935. In 1899 the section opted instead for a site near the Laghi Gemelli. Construction took place between 1899 and 1900: a single-storey masonry building with a slate roof, four rooms and 18 beds, set on a grassy knoll with a panoramic view towards Pizzo del Becco. The inauguration ceremony was held on 1 July 1900 in the presence of about 200 people. During the Second World War the hut was used as a partisan operational base. In January 1945 about 300 fascist soldiers ascended from Carona and completely destroyed the building by fire. The few partisans present managed to escape after observing the fascist advance from the valley floor. Reconstruction began in the summer of 1946. The new hut was positioned about one hundred metres further south, closer to the Gemelli lakes, which had in the meantime been dammed in 1932 to form a reservoir. Designed by architect Carlo Alberto Veneziani and supervised by surveyor Emilio Corti, the building was completed and inaugurated on 25 July 1948, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the local CAI section. In the following years the structure underwent several renovations and extensions. In the spring of 2015 the area where the old hut stood was cleaned up, and the old building perimeter and some artefacts were brought to light. Today the hut is one of the most frequented and appreciated in the area, thanks to its position of notable scenic, naturalistic and hiking interest. It has around 80 beds, a bar and a restaurant. The current management, led by Maurizio, offers bar and food service as well as accommodation in a youthful and informal atmosphere, drawing on twenty years of experience in mountain huts. The kitchen emphasises local products and typical valley dishes, and the hut is a key stop on the Sentiero delle Orobie Orientali.

• 2015

  The area of the old hut is cleaned up; the old perimeter and some artefacts are uncovered.

• 1948

  The new hut is completed and inaugurated on 25 July, during the 75th anniversary of the local CAI section.

• 1946

  Reconstruction of the hut begins in the summer.

• 1945

  In January, about 300 fascist soldiers burn down the hut, which had served as a partisan base.

• 1932

  A dam is built, merging the Gemelli lakes into a single artificial reservoir.

• 1900

  The original hut is inaugurated on 1 July in the presence of about 200 people.

• 1899

  Decision to build the hut near the Laghi Gemelli; construction begins.

• 1890

  CAI Bergamo begins discussing the construction of a hut in the Brembana Valley.

A historic, welcoming CAI mountain hut in a spectacular alpine setting, known for local cuisine and informal hospitality.

• Overnight accommodation

  Around 80 beds in a youthful and informal atmosphere.

• Bar and restaurant service

  Bar and food service for hikers and walkers.

• Local cuisine

  Typical dishes from the valley, including casoncelli, foiade with mushrooms, pappardelle with dark flour, polenta with cheeses or mushrooms, stewed donkey or game, and Lenna stew.

• Cheese selection

  Taleggio, Gorgonzola, fresh Branzi, Formai dè Mùt and other local cheeses, served alone or on platters.

• Homemade desserts

  Strüdel, pear tarts with Valcalepio wine sauce, rye-flour cakes, berry tarts and polenta with chocolate or berries.

• Wine list

  A wine list featuring local labels.

1. 1Rifugio Laghi Gemelli official websiterifugiolaghigemelli.it
2. 2Rifugio Laghi Gemelli - Cuisinerifugiolaghigemelli.it
3. 3Wikidata entry for Rifugio Laghi Gemelliwikidata.org
4. 4Italian Wikipedia article on Rifugio Laghi Gemelliit.wikipedia.org