An isolated refuge built into a sheer rock face on a mountain peak in the Italian Dolomites is a sight to behold. Accessible only by hiking a perilous path on foot or helicopter, the refuge was once a military supply store and shelter from the elements during World War One and has been recently restored, putting this unique building back on the map.
The Buffa di Perrero refuge on the massif Mount Cristallo, in the midst of the Dolomite Mountains, was originally a refuge for the Alpini who fought against Austrian troops in World War One.
The refuge, named after Colonel Carlo Buffa di Perrero, who commanded the Cadore battalion, is perfectly embedded into the mountainside at 2,760 meters altitude, well camouflaged and visible only from the front.
It comprises brick walls, a sloping roof, two doors, four shuttered windows, and a vertical drop to the valley below mere steps from the entryway.
They reached the site by hiking the scenic yet demanding via ferrata Ivano Dibona (or “iron path”) aided by rope ladders, rungs, and cables, the same route taken by the Alpini during the war.
The restored refuge was inaugurated with a plaque on Sept. 17, 2022.
Over sheer, snowy mountainside paths and past scenic peaks, the trio made it to their destination. They spent a night in the refuge with its wood-burning stove and wooden bunk beds, to rest their bodies and celebrate their triumph, returning to their starting point 13 hours later.
Buffa di Perrero is indeed one incredible refuge. And possibly an adventurous travel destination worth exploring but it’s not something for the faint-hearted.
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