Val di Mello: Refuges and farmhouses where to eat and rest

3. Rising Moon Shelter

Rifugio Luna Nascente in Val di Mello was the first to be opened in the entire valley, becoming a landmark for all hikers who ventured out in summer as well as winter.

It is located inCascina Piana, not far from the Mello hut and the drinking fountain where you can refill your water bottles for free.

Here you can enjoy typical cuisine and Valtellina wines such as Sassella, Inferno, Grumello and Sforzato, which are a must in the refuge's cellar.

A must-try are the homemade cakes baked in a wood-burning oven, as is traditional in the mountains: berry tart, apple strudel and chestnut cake with chocolate chips.

If you want to spend the night in Val di Mello, the Luna Nascente refuge offers two solutions to live the mountain experience 100%.

You can choose to stay inside the refuge, in rooms with private bathrooms, like in a classic hotel, or in dormitories with bunk beds and walls covered with fir and stone pine wood that insulates from the winter cold and creates a warm and cozy atmosphere.

The real special feature of staying at the Rifugio Luna Nascente, however, is the possibility of sleeping in lodges with the organizational style of the albergo diffuso, that is, small separate lodgings that report to a central core where the restaurant and other services are located.

These are not purpose-built lodgings to simulate the atmosphere of old mountain pasture houses, but real huts converted into guest rooms with bunk beds and lofts. For this reason, the bathroom is outside, there are no electrical outlets, and power for lighting is provided by solar panels.

A true return to the past for a complete immersive experience in mountain life as it once was.

To add the refuge: Cascina Piana, Via Val di Mello, 500, 23010 Val Masino SO. Google Maps: Rifugio Luna Nascente. Phone: 3383317507

The lodges provided by the Luna Nascente refuge where you can experience authentic mountain life

4. Rasega Refuge

Rifugio Rasega is located in the Rasica locality and is the last refuge in the valley; it is located on the outer part of a group of huts that also marks the end of the flat trail and the beginning of the ascent to Alpe Pioda.

The dishes offered by the hut are typical of Valtellina, not only in the type of dishes but also in the way they are cooked, on traditional wood-burning stoves.

Guests have greatly appreciated it for the extraordinarily light and not very "greasy" cuisine, considering the amount of butter typical of traditional Valtellina cooking, and for the extraordinary raspberry tart. If you choose to have lunch at the Rasega hut, you absolutely must try it.

Inside the refuge there is also a small library corner where you can check out books on fauna, flora, minerals, mountains, climbing and hiking guides, and where refuge guests entertain themselves with music and games.

Shelter life, in fact, is not just about sheltering from the weather, eating a hot meal or resting for the night but it is about getting to know other hikers, sharing stories and experiences,
making friends with people who share the same love for the mountains and nature.

To add the refuge: Location Rasica, 23010 Val Masino SO. Google Maps: Rifugio Rasega. Phone: 3314200142

The Rasega refuge, the last refuge in the valley before starting the ascent to Alpe Pioda

 

Conclusion

The Val di Mello is a destination worth visiting in summer as well as in winter.
Whether you want to stop for a night stargazing in one of the areas where light pollution is minimal and you can get an excellent view of the Milky Way, or you want to find a place to stop and have a good lunch with friends before continuing your hike, the huts in the Val di Mello have everything you are looking for