Monte Baldo Refuges
Mondini - Baito Turri Refuge / Rifugio Mondini - Baito Turri
T: +39 331 3566824 (write on WhatsApp)
This facility was closed for renovation for a period of ten years, reopening in July 2023.
It is named after Eugenio Turri. He lived in Verona and was a famous geographer, writer and traveller. In his books about Monte Baldo he examined very pertinent issues such as the precarious relationship between man and nature, and raised the issue of protecting and ensuring sustainability in our mountains. He believed it should “concern our individual conscience, as it is among the great regional, collective and even global issues”.
The Rifugio is at Ortigaretta, in the municipality of San Zeno di Montagna, and stands at 1,550 m above sea level. It is easy to reach by taking the two-seater gondola up to the middle station of the Prada Costabella ski lift.
In summer, the large scenic terrace overlooking the lake is a delightful spot for breakfast, aperitifs, or outdoor lunch.
The inside room with large windows and historic fireplace is a lovely place to spend time during the winter months. The menu features many local dishes, including polenta with game, homemade pasta, and plates of assorted mountain cheeses, hams and salamis.
Fiori del Baldo Refuge / Rifugio Fiori del Baldo
T: +39 045 6862477
This refuge is at 1,850 metres above sea level, in the municipality of San Zeno di Montagna, and close to the top station of the Prada Costabella chairlift.
From here, you get a stunning panoramic view of the Monte Baldo chain. You can see as far as the Apennines, the Brescia Prealps and Monte Rosa. On very clear days you can catch a glimpse of the imposing pyramid of Monviso and the Venetian Lagoon to the east.
Rifugio Fiori del Baldo has an indoor dining room and a large outdoor terrace.
It is open from late spring to early autumn and offers a bar and restaurant service.
Chierego Refuge / Rifugio Chierego
T: 045 2457599
Rifugio Chierego is on the southern slope of Monte Baldo, in the municipality of Brenzone sul Garda. It stands in a very scenic position on the ridge just below Cima Costabella, at a height of 1,911 metres above sea level. It's about a 20-minute walk from the chairlift station, slightly uphill along an easy unpaved road.
The building was constructed by CAI activists at the beginning of the last century to honour Dr. Giovanni Chierego, a mountain enthusiast from Verona. It was subsequently donated to the Verona section of the Italian Alpine Club and became a wonderful centre of hospitality and good food, with dishes in the local tradition.
It was renovated in 2015, with the construction of a large terrace that acts as a balcony overlooking Lake Garda and the Adige Valley. The view stretches from the north-east to the north-west, with the Dolomites, Pasubio, Carezza, Lessini, the Apennines, Monviso, Monte Rosa and the Cornone di Blumone. And the crowning glory is the stunning view of Lake Garda down below.
The Rifugio offers a bar and restaurant service, with a large indoor dining area and an outdoor terrace. It also provides overnight accommodation for anyone wanting to sleep up in the mountains, with 21 beds in rooms for 4 and 6 people.
Telegrafo Refuge / Rifugio Telegrafo
T: +39 349 1389629 (write on WhatsApp)
T: +39 045 7731797 (we can only answer if we are at the refuge)
The Barana Refuge is up on Monte Baldo in the municipality of Brenzone sul Garda; it is just a short distance from Cima Telegrafo, at a height of 2,147 metres, and in a dominant position above Lake Garda.
It opened in 1897 and is the highest of its kind in the mountains of Verona. The name Telegrafo relates to the fact that Napoleon's army set up a transmitter here for sending long-distance signals and messages by optical telegraph. In 1972, the mountain hut took the name of "GAETANO BARANA al TELEGRAFO", after his son Franco made a considerable donation towards completing the reconstruction of the then dilapidated building.
It is open every day from late Spring (May) to early autumn (October), depending on the snow and the weather conditions.
After you have taken the Prada Costabella chair lift to the top, you need to do the rest of the trip on foot, by following path CAI 658 up from Rifugio Fiori del Baldo (1,850 m). This walk involves a height difference of 300 m and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes each way.
This mountain hut offers bar and restaurant services, plus overnight stay in rooms for 2-4 or 8 people, for those who want the unique experience of sleeping at high altitude.