Rifugio Gianetti is one of the most famous mountain huts in all of Lombardy. It is surrounded by the amphitheatre of granite peaks of the upper Val Porcellizzo (Pizzo Porcellizzo, the Badile and the Cengalo, and the Pizzi del Ferro on the right), and lends itself to further hikes to the Omio or Allievi huts, along the Sentiero Roma, of which the Gianetti is a stage.
We start from Bagni del Masino (m1172, parking 5€) and immediately begin climbing steeply along an old mule track dating back to the 17th century. The climb is mostly through the woods as far as the flat ground of Casera Porcellizzo. A couple of interesting points along the way: the "Termopili" (m1415), two huge boulders leaning against each other, forming a narrow passage that suggested the name "Termopili" (Thermopylae), after the narrow pass of the famous Greek battle. And a little further on, the Cascate della Val Porcellizzo, roaring away on our left.
On reaching Casera Porcellizzo (m1899, h2.00), we are out of the woods, and the rocky amphitheatre that closes the valley grows more imposing with every step. On a steady, rather monotonous path, we reach Rifugio Gianetti (m2534, h1.30).
For more experienced and fitter hikers, the traverse to Rifugio Omio over the equipped path of Passo del Barbacan is recommended (about 3 hours), descending from there to Bagni del Masino (h2.00).
