Rifugio Palù

Rifugio Palù (also known as Rifugio Lago Palù) is an Italian alpine mountain lodge situated near the northern shore of Lake Palù at an altitude of 1,947 metres in the western Rhaetian Alps, within the Valmalenco valley in the province of Sondrio, Lombardy. It is a classic rifugio — a staffed mountain hut offering food, drink and overnight accommodation to hikers, skiers and other mountain visitors — and it has been owned and run by the Dell'Andrino family from generation to generation since it was built in the 1920s. The lodge was constructed by Giuseppe Dell'Andrino, known as Nino, a mountain guide of the era. According to the official history, it was built between 1928 and 1929 after five years of war, and it opened as Rifugio Palù in 1930, when it was affiliated to the CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) of Desio for four years. The official website also presents the lodge as having a roughly hundred-year story, dating its construction to 1925. After Giuseppe Dell'Andrino died in 1980, his son Giovanni carried the lodge on until 1984; following Giovanni's death, Giuseppe Dell'Andrino, known as Beppe, took it over and remains its manager. Until 1984 the lodge operated only in summer. A restructuring of the kitchen in 1991 and of the lodge itself in 2009 allowed it to begin winter service as well. Thanks to these renovations it is now described as a comfortable and easily accessible lodge suitable for all kinds of guests, from the elderly to young people and families. The rifugio is a stage point on the Alta Via della Valmalenco long-distance trail: it is the arrival point of the fourth stage (Chiareggio – Rifugio Palù) and the starting point of the fifth stage (Rifugio Palù – Rifugio Marinelli Bombardieri). It can be reached on foot from the locality of Barchi in about 45 minutes, or from the upper station of the Chiesa in Valmalenco–Palù cable car in about 30 minutes. Popular excursions from the lodge include Sasso Nero (2,917 m), Rifugio Motta (2,236 m) and the circuit of Lake Palù. The restaurant serves typical dishes of Valtellina cuisine made with local products, and the lodge's rooms are built entirely of wood. The surrounding nature offers activities in both summer and winter, including trekking, fishing, cross-country skiing, skiing and snowboarding. The lodge does not take bookings by phone or email; guests are advised to arrive before the midday rush hour to be seated with minimal waiting.

Rifugio Palù was built by Giuseppe Dell'Andrino, known as Nino, a mountain guide of the time. The official history page states that the mountain lodge was built between 1928 and 1929, after five years of war, while the same site elsewhere presents the lodge as having a roughly hundred-year story and dates its construction to 1925. In 1930 it opened as Rifugio Palù and was affiliated to the CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) of Desio for four years. The lodge has always been owned by the Dell'Andrino family, passed down from generation to generation. When Giuseppe Dell'Andrino died in 1980, his son Giovanni Dell'Andrino carried it on until 1984. After Giovanni's death, Giuseppe Dell'Andrino, known as Beppe, took it over and remains the manager. Until 1984 the lodge offered only summer service. A restructuring of the kitchen in 1991 and of the lodge in 2009 allowed winter service to begin as well. Thanks to these renovations, the rifugio is now described as comfortable and easily accessible, suitable for any type of guest, including the elderly, young people and families. Geographically, the rifugio stands near the northern shore of Lake Palù at 1,947 metres in the western Rhaetian Alps, in the Valmalenco valley. It is a stage point on the Alta Via della Valmalenco: the arrival point of the fourth stage (Chiareggio – Rifugio Palù) and the starting point of the fifth stage (Rifugio Palù – Rifugio Marinelli Bombardieri). It can be reached on foot from Barchi in about 45 minutes or from the upper station of the Chiesa in Valmalenco–Palù cable car in about 30 minutes. Excursions from the lodge include Sasso Nero (2,917 m), Rifugio Motta (2,236 m) and the circuit of Lake Palù. The restaurant serves typical Valtellina dishes with local products, and the rooms are built entirely of wood. The surrounding area supports trekking, fishing, cross-country skiing, skiing and snowboarding in both summer and winter. The lodge does not accept bookings by phone or email, advising guests instead to arrive before the midday rush hour.

• 2009

  Restructuring of the lodge, further supporting winter service and improved comfort.

• 1991

  Kitchen restructuring, enabling the start of winter service.

• 1984

  Giovanni Dell'Andrino died; Giuseppe Dell'Andrino (Beppe) took over. Until this year the lodge had only summer service.

• 1980

  Giuseppe Dell'Andrino died; his son Giovanni Dell'Andrino carried on the lodge.

• 1930

  Opened as Rifugio Palù and affiliated to the CAI of Desio for four years.

• 1928

  Official history states the lodge was built between 1928 and 1929 by Giuseppe Dell'Andrino (Nino).

• 1925

  Official website dates the construction of the mountain lodge to 1925.

A historic, family-run alpine rifugio in Valmalenco offering Valtellina cuisine, wood-built rooms and a base for hiking, skiing and the Alta Via della Valmalenco.

• Alpine lodge accommodation

  Wood-built rooms for overnight stays.

• Valtellina restaurant

  Typical dishes of Valtellina cuisine with local products.

• Hiking and skiing base

  Base for trekking, fishing, cross-country, skiing and snowboarding.

1. 1Rifugio Palù official websiterifugiopalu.it
2. 2History | Rifugio Palùrifugiopalu.it
3. 3Rifugio Palù – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Rifugio Palù – Wikipedia (Italian)it.wikipedia.org