Top 6 Huts and Cabins around Avigliana

The Avigliana area offers a variety of mountain huts, known as 'rifugi' in Italy. These range from fully staffed huts with restaurants and lodging, like Rifugio Amprimo and Rifugio Rocca Sella, to simpler, unserviced bivouacs such as Colle della Portia Hut, which provides basic shelter with a stove and seating. Some, like Rifugio Ciargiur, are situated in renovated ancient villages and offer amenities like picnic tables and fountains.

Rifugio Amprimo is an excellent choice for families, reachable by a short 40-minute walk through forests. It's located at the edge of a large grassy clearing within the Orsiera Rocciavrè Park. Colle della Portia Hut is also considered family-friendly and can be reached by an easy walk from Col del Lys.

Many staffed huts, such as Rifugio Amprimo and Rifugio Rocca Sella, offer restaurant services with mountain cuisine, including local specialties like polenta and homemade desserts. Rifugio Amprimo also has a bar and provides lodging with 48 beds. Simpler huts like Colle della Portia Hut are bivouacs with basic facilities like a stove and seating, but no service or overnight accommodation.

Yes, Rifugio Amprimo serves as a key stopping point for the 'Giro dell'Orsiera' trek, a challenging 55 km loop through the Orsiera-Rocciavrè Natural Park. This makes it an ideal base for multi-day explorations of the park.

The area around Avigliana's huts offers diverse outdoor activities. You can enjoy various mountain hikes, including routes like the 'Giro dell'Orsiera' from Rifugio Amprimo. For cyclists, Rifugio Amprimo provides a mountain bike shelter point with repair services. There are also gravel biking routes and running trails in the wider Avigliana region.

Rifugio Amprimo is located at Pian Cervetto. To reach it by car, take the Avigliana Ovest exit from the Torino-Bardonecchia highway, head towards Susa, then turn off at S. Giorio di Susa towards Parco Orsiera Rocciavré. After Città, follow signs for Cortavetto-Paradiso delle Rane and Rifugio Onelio Amprimo, where parking is available. From the parking area, it's an easy 40-minute walk to the hut.

The huts are generally most accessible and active during the warmer months. Summer is ideal for activities like donkey excursions offered by Rifugio Amprimo and for enjoying the large grassy areas for picnics. However, some huts may be open year-round or seasonally, so it's always best to check specific hut opening times.

Rifugio Amprimo has a notable history, originally built in 1937 and rebuilt after being destroyed in 1944. Additionally, the area around Lys Pass, which includes a refuge, was the scene of a significant historical battle in July 1944, commemorated by a tower at the pass.

Visitors appreciate the serene natural settings, the opportunity to immerse themselves in the region's beauty, and the communal atmosphere found in many huts. The delicious mountain cuisine, spectacular views from locations like Lys Pass, and the availability of facilities like picnic tables at Rifugio Ciargiur are also highly valued.

Yes, Rifugio Amprimo offers a dedicated mountain bike shelter point. This facility provides repair services, including spare parts and tools, along with secure parking, thanks to a collaboration with Cyclo Avigliana.

Rifugio Rocca Sella is an excellent base in the Celle hamlet, serving as a starting point for paths that lead to the top of Mount Rocca Sella. Rifugio Amprimo is also a strategic base for exploring the Orsiera Rocciavrè Park.