In the bowl beneath the Crozzon di Brenta, the hut that was Bruno Detassis's home.
Rifugio Maria e Alberto ai Brentei sits at 2,182 metres in a bowl that ranks among the most beautiful spots in the whole Brenta Dolomites: in front of you rises the north-east face of the Crozzon di Brenta, a wall of nearly a thousand metres, and beyond it the unmistakable outline of the Campanil Basso. It's a SAT hut, and for half a century it was run by Bruno Detassis, mountain guide and one of the greatest climbers of the twentieth century, who welcomed generations of climbers here. Next to the hut stands a small chapel dedicated to those lost in the mountains: the Brentei bowl has always been the climbing heart of the group.
You reach it on foot from Vallesinella, above Madonna di Campiglio, where you leave the car in the paid car park (in high season you can often only go up by shuttle, check the current year). From there the trail passes Rifugio Casinei and continues on the Bogani path, with a stretch carved into the rock that is a show in itself: about two and a half hours of walking in all, with no technical difficulty but a fair amount of climbing. It's the classic approach, the one everyone takes, and on summer weekends it shows.
The hut is the historic base for the Via delle Bocchette, the most famous system of equipped ledges in the Dolomites: from here you climb towards the Bocca di Brenta and the start points of the ferratas, or head for the Crozzon and its great classic routes. With around ninety beds it's a comfortable base, but in summer it needs booking well ahead, especially if you're doing the Bocchette and need the overnight stop. It opens roughly from late June to late September. The kitchen is the honest fare of Trentino huts: canederli, polenta, strudel, exactly what you need after a day on the wall.
Services & info
Trails passing through Rifugio Maria e Alberto ai Brentei
Frequently asked questions
How do you reach Rifugio Brentei?
On foot from Vallesinella, above Madonna di Campiglio: you pass Rifugio Casinei and continue on the Bogani path, with a stretch carved into the rock. About two and a half hours of walking in all. In high season you can often only get up to Vallesinella by shuttle.
Can you sleep at Rifugio Brentei?
Yes, there are around ninety beds. It's the classic stop for anyone doing the Via delle Bocchette, so in summer book well ahead. It opens roughly from late June to late September.
Why is Rifugio Brentei so famous?
For its position, in the bowl beneath the Crozzon di Brenta and the Campanil Basso, and for its history: it was run for half a century by Bruno Detassis, mountain guide and climbing legend. Generations of climbers bound for the Bocchette and the great walls of the Brenta have passed through here.