RIFUGIO ESCURSIONISTICO CAPANNA CERVINO

Why is a refuge in the heart of the Dolomites named after the highest peak in the Western Alps? For Cervino is the Italian name for the Matterhorn. Mountain guide Alfredo Paluselli chose this name for the refuge he had built at the foot of Cimon della Pala in the thirties - the Matterhorn of the Dolomites. The extraordinary similarity between the two peaks can be argued over for hours, sitting on the terrace of the Capanna Cervino, just up from Passo Rolle and open in winter and summer. But it would be much better to give in to the temptation of a plate of goulash made with beef from the prized Highland cattle raised on a local farm (or another of the local dishes on the menu), and - having finished your meal - walk a little further up to see this pyramidal rock mirrored in the little lake. A picture you’ve already seen? Very likely, as it was used as one of Windows’ background images. Open WINTER: from December to April SUMMER: open every day from 20 June to early October. The remaining weekends in October until the beginning of November only daytime restaurant service. Before leaving for your hike, always contact the manager to verify the opening of the mountain hut Walks You can get to the Baita Segantini (and its little lake) in a few minutes on foot (or by bike) and from there you can descend an easy dirt road into Val Venegia. Or climb to the top of Monte Castellazzo, where there is a statue of Christ the Thinker, put there in 2009: there and back takes less than 3 hours along an easy path with a very small height gain, difficulty T. From Capanna Cervino there is also a circular route that goes down into Val Venegia, passes Malga Venegiota and Malga Venegia to then goes back up to Malga Juribello and along the “Hunters’ Path” back to Passo Rolle. From Val Venegia, more precisely Pian della Vezzana, walk up footpath no. 710 and in 3 hours (difficulty E) you’ll arrive at Rifugio Volpi al Mulaz, 2571 metres.