Story: A place for stopping, meeting and socialising
Atop Monte Gambarogno, Capanna Gambarögn, once a Swiss Army barracks, is reborn thanks to friends' efforts to create a welcoming spot above Lake Maggiore.
At 1,734 metres above sea level, at the top of Monte Gambarogno, the wonderful Capanna Gambarögn has been reborn from a former Swiss Army barracks. A group of friends joined forces and embarked on a painstaking renovation project, making this meeting place above Lake Maggiore usable once more.
Manolo Piazza, Association Amis dala Capanna Gambarögn
I’d like this to be the hut of the people, for the people.
A new entity has appeared on the Ticino alpine hut scene, promising to leave its mark. It took almost ten years to fulfil the dream of a group of friends – Pepe, Paolo, Gina, Vittoria, Donatella, and Manolo Piazza, president of the “Amis dala Capanna Gambarögn” association. Efforts put into this ambitious regeneration project have been amply rewarded, both in human terms and in terms of tourism. The hut stands in a spectacular spot looking out over the entire region and boasting an unmissable 360-degree view stretching from Bellinzona and its valleys to the far end of Lake Maggiore. The Capanna Gambarögn is easily accessible and can be reached in just 45 minutes’ walk from Alpe di Neggia. The path is not particularly demanding, allowing a wide range of people – from children to seniors – to access it even on a day hike.
It was his idea to found the “Amis dala Capanna Gambarögn” association with the aim of restoring this hut, built in 1934, and making it usable again. It was in danger of being demolished. Numerous private and public partners were involved, but the real difference was made by the people, especially the volunteers. Those who so wished could roll up their sleeves and lend a hand with various types of work, both inside and outside the hut.
I learned so much while restoring the hut.
In the 1990s, the hut was home to the Gambarogno snowboard school. Manolo was also the caretaker for a couple of seasons and realised its great potential. The association intends to give continuity to the hut and make it a meeting place to encourage human interaction.
The project involved restoring the wooden parts that characterise the interior spaces to create the dormitory, with 16 beds. The remaining space has been converted into a large room – the lounge – with a big stove. The wonderful view can be admired through two large fixed-glass windows, one facing Lake Maggiore and the other the mountain side. Every inch of the hut has been meticulously prepared by the craftsmen: from the wardrobe to the shelves in the lounge, to the outdoor bar on the terrace made entirely of larch wood.
Particular attention was paid to reusing existing materials, prioritising wood, stone, metal and glass.
The hut remains at the centre of a wide constellation of tourist attractions, in addition to the hiking network, such as the village of Indemini, the hamlet of Cento Campi with its thatched-roof houses, and the “Sass da Grüm” site endowed with high energy, and aims to become an important part of the region’s tourist promotion. In fact, Manolo and his friends intend to work with other organisations to help guests discover the gems concealed in the Gambarogno area.
There is a warm energy at the Capanna Gambarögn that conveys well-being and invites visitors to sit back and appreciate life.
"I’d like this to be the hut of the people, for the people."
SHAREWould you like to get some more stories? Subscribe to the newsletter.
