Rifugio Garelli

The place

Staffed refuge at 1970 m in the heart of the Marguareis Natural Park (Ligurian Alps), locality Pian del Lupo, Chiusa di Pesio (Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy). Capacity 90 beds. Built in 1950 by the Mondovì CAI section and dedicated to the memory of Piero Garelli (1905-1945), lawyer, mountaineer and president of CAI Mondovì, deported and died at the Mauthausen-Gusen II concentration camp during the Second World War; he had joined the Resistance immediately after the armistice with the 3rd Alpine Division. In November 1987, a devastating fire completely destroyed the refuge; thanks to the commitment of CAI Mondovì and numerous volunteers, reconstruction was carried out over three summer seasons and the new refuge, designed by architect Gian Bertarione of Cuneo, opened in July 1991. Owned by CAI Mondovì. Family-run: Simone Colombo has recently taken over from his father Guido, who had managed it since 1980. A key stage of the Giro del Marguareis, which links the Pesio valley to the Ellero valley via the Passo della Sestrera.