Rifugio Ponti

Rifugio Ponti, officially Rifugio Cesare Ponti and historically known as Capanna Disgrazia and Capanna Cecilia, is a high-altitude mountain hut (rifugio) in the Italian Alps. It sits at 2,559 metres above sea level in the Valle di Predarossa, within the municipality of Valmasino in the Lombardy region of Italy, at the foot of Monte Disgrazia. The hut is owned by the Milan section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) and is a key stop on the Sentiero Roma, a classic alpine high route. The story of the hut begins in 1881, when Count Francesco Lurani Cernuschi, a noted explorer and illustrator, together with Ernesto Albertario, built the first hut in Valmasino. It was named Capanna Disgrazia after the nearby peak and served for years as the only base for ascents of Monte Disgrazia. Because it could shelter only about five people, it soon proved too small. The building was donated to the CAI of Milan, and in 1890 a larger hut, Capanna Cecilia, was built next to the old one, named in honour of Francesco Lurani's wife. In 1928 the structure was enlarged with the support of the Ponti family and dedicated to Cesare Ponti, a Milanese banker and councillor of the Milan CAI section. The hut, much like the present building, underwent further expansion and improvement in 1986 and then in two phases, one in 2005 and the last in 2007, when the roof was redone. For decades until 2017 the hut was managed by Ezio Cassina and his wife Amedea Scetti. Since 2018 it has been managed by the company Casa delle Guide srl. Rifugio Ponti is classified as a high-altitude hut, reachable only on foot, and is frequented by hikers and mountaineers. It offers 60 sleeping places and is normally open from the beginning of June to the end of September. It lies on the Sentiero Roma, with the nearest huts on that route being Rifugio Allievi-Bonacossa (2,388 m, about 5 hours away) and Rifugio Bosio-Galli (2,086 m, about 2½ hours away). Monte Disgrazia (3,678 m) is the principal summit objective from the hut. As of the official website notice, the hut is closed for the winter break and is scheduled to reopen in June 2027.

The history of Rifugio Ponti begins in 1881, when Count Francesco Lurani Cernuschi, a famous explorer and illustrator, together with Ernesto Albertario, built the first hut in Valmasino. It was named Capanna Disgrazia, after the peak at whose foot it stood, and for several years it was the only outpost for ascents of Monte Disgrazia. It soon proved insufficient because it was too small, sheltering at most five people. The building was donated to the CAI of Milan. A few years later, in 1890, a new and more capacious hut was built near the old one and named Capanna Cecilia, in honour of the wife of Francesco Lurani. In the mid-20th century, specifically in 1928, the building was enlarged thanks to the contribution of the Ponti family and was dedicated to Cesare Ponti, a Milanese banker and councillor of the Milan CAI section. The hut, very similar to the present one, underwent further phases of expansion and improvement, first in 1986 and later in two phases, one in 2005 and the last in 2007, when the roof was redone. In recent decades, until 2017, the management of the hut was entrusted to Ezio Cassina and his wife Amedea Scetti. Since 2018 the hut has been managed by the company Casa delle Guide srl. The hut is a true mountain refuge classified as "high altitude", reachable only on foot and therefore frequented by hikers and mountaineers who want to experience the high mountains. It lies at 2,559 metres above sea level in the Valle di Predarossa, within the municipality of Valmasino in the Lombardy region, at the foot of Monte Disgrazia. It is a Schutzhütte of the Milan section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI). It is normally managed from the beginning of June to the end of September and offers 60 sleeping places. It lies on the Sentiero Roma, an alpine high route; the nearest huts on that route are Rifugio Allievi-Bonacossa (2,388 m) about 5 hours away and Rifugio Bosio-Galli (2,086 m) about 2½ hours away. Monte Disgrazia (3,678 m) is the principal summit objective. As of the official website notice, the hut is closed for the winter break and is scheduled to reopen in June 2027.

• 2018

  Management taken over by Casa delle Guide srl.

• 2017

  End of management by Ezio Cassina and Amedea Scetti.

• 2007

  Final improvement phase, including redoing the roof.

• 2005

  First of two further improvement phases.

• 1986

  Further expansion and improvement of the hut.

• 1928

  The building is enlarged with the support of the Ponti family and dedicated to Cesare Ponti.

• 1890

  A larger hut, Capanna Cecilia, is built next to the old one and named after Francesco Lurani's wife.

• 1881

  Count Francesco Lurani Cernuschi and Ernesto Albertario build the first hut in Valmasino, named Capanna Disgrazia.

• Scheduled reopening in June after winter closure.

A historic, high-altitude alpine hut owned by the Milan section of the Club Alpino Italiano, reachable only on foot and catering to hikers and mountaineers on the Sentiero Roma.

• Overnight accommodation (60 beds)

• Meals for guests

• Base for Monte Disgrazia ascents

• Stop on the Sentiero Roma

1. 1Rifugio Ponti - Valmasinorifugioponti.it
2. 2Rifugio Ponti - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Rifugio Cesare Ponti - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org