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Rifugio Guglielmina (1878 - 2011) - Alagna
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The foto series below illustrates visits in 2004,2005 and 2008.
In Alberto's hut everybody was welcome, from local cracks, grumpy piste groomer personnel to foreign powder geeks. Unforgettable the selection of good wine (according to rumors 10.000 bottles where stocked in the wine cellar) for long winter evenings or the quick espresso break during a heavy ski day at the bar.
The Rifugio was built in 1860 as a simple shelter by Alberto's grand father(?) Giuseppe Guglielmina and subsequently expanded to a mountain hotel with the comport of the belle epoque. The then hotel was run by the family for one century and a half and even hosted the Queen Gugliemina, consort of the Kingdom of Italy during the reign (1878–1900) of her husband, Umberto I.
Further prestigious hotels built by the Guglielmina family spread along the Alps and the Ligurian sea. Amongst them the Albergo del Monte Rosa in Alagna itself, Albergo delle Alpi in Riva Valdobbia (1871), Albergo d’Italia in Varallo Sesia (1879), Albergo del Mottarone on the Maggiore lake (1884), Hotel Bellevue Alpino in Gignese (1900), Hotel Royal in Ospedaletti Ligure (1901) and the Grand Hotel Eden in Santa Margherita Ligure (1901).
The Rifugio Guglielmina was was closed in 1962. Only thanks to Albertos restless efforts, the Rifugio reopended after being restructured in 1994, offering 40 guest beds in charming wooden rooms.
In addition to the cozy atmosphere high up at the Col d'Olen in Alagna, the location of the Rifugio at 2880m of altitude gave its guests great views over the surrounding mountains and valleys. Due to the altitude, the blue sky there appeared more blue than elsewhere, and particularly bright moon nights over winter landscapes were worth being lived Guglielminas terrace.
I noticed many young "freeride package-tourists" adhering to the Playstation generation who apparently were confronted with living in a mountain hut for their first time in life. They enjoyed getting to know new perspectives away from their known comfort zones.
 | Visit in 2004: Still with the "old" patina, before undergoing restructuration works
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Ancient post card: Scenery around the Rifugio Guglielmina. Notice the now disappeared glacier Bors
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Approaching the Rifugio Guglielmina 1
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Approaching the Rifugio Guglielmina 2
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Approaching the Rifugio Guglielmina 3
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The Rifugio Guglielmina in 2004: Notice the beautiful patina of the old limewash dark orange color. Modern chemical paintings remain homogenous over their surface until they start falling off and becoming ugly.
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Ice crystal patterns spread organically along the window surface at the Rifugio Guglielmina
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The great Alberto Calaba, who gave joy to all visitory of his Rifugio
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The secret weapon for well being: Good wine
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Breakfast. Italian breakfast.
Rifugio Guglielmina and its neighboring Rifugio Vigevano (CAI - Club Alpino Italiano)
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| Visit in 2005
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The old tiled windows have been replaced by energy efficient modern ones
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| Visit in 2008: inside the great old atmosphere subsists, but the outer shell has been altered
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The restoration has been carried out with great care. The new window frames fit well into the old now green painted mount.
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Only when looking very closely one discovers that the new window frames are made of wood too. Because of the color and the homogenous surface they look as if made of plastic from a distance.
The Olen descent from the rifugio, after being highwaydized in its lower part. The upper was treated one year later
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December 2011: The fire
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