The refuge, at 3,531 metres above sea level at the foot of Monte Vioz, is not only the highest refuge in Trentino, it is also the highest in the entire Eastern Alps. It’s immensely satisfying just to get up here and then to climb to the summit in another fifteen minutes with its views (often above the clouds) encompassing all the mountain ranges of Western Trentino and expanses of ice in Trentino, Lombardy and Alto Adige. The refuge has a distinctive shape that makes it resistant to even the strongest gusts of wind. It has been restored according to eco-sustainability criteria and has been run for over fifty years by the Casanova family. The White War was fought here at extreme altitudes and nearby at Punta Linke the ice has preserved significant vestiges, now displayed in a high-altitude museum. Open From 20 June to 20 September Walks The walk up to the refuge and then on to the summit of Monte Vioz (15 minutes, difficulty EE) is quite a climb. There are a number of mountaineering routes from here, to be undertaken in a rope team with crampons and ice axes, preferably accompanied by a mountain guide. The Rifugio Mantova Vioz is also on the “Giro delle 13 cime” (Tour of the 13 Peaks), a three-day walk over the peaks around the Forni glacial basin (difficulty EEA). If you want to visit the Punta Linke museum (open only in summer), we recommend going with a guide (information on museum opening times and conditions from the refuge).
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