HISTORY

The "Prospero Marchetti" refuge under construction - summer 1905
Final preparations are being made before the inauguration of the shelter...
Monte Stivo: the "Prospero Marchetti" refuge inaugurated on 7 October 1906

Fruit of the desire of the Arco community, and a race against time, on October 7th 1906 our “rifugio” was inaugurated and named after Prospero Marchetti, founder and first president of the Alpine Society of Trentino. 

Fruit of the desire of the Arco community, and a race against time,
on October 7th 1906 our “rifugio” was inaugurated and named after Prospero Marchetti,
 founder and first president of the Alpine Society of Trentino. 

In 1915, once Italy joined WWI, the Society stopped all activities and in 1917 was officially dismantled by the Austrian authorities for its alleged support to Italy. During WWI, the “rifugio” was heavily damaged and in 1922 the S.A.T. central board (the Arco branch would have been established only in 1931), decided to entrust Angelo Conti from Bolognano with managing it. All activities were interrupted again by WWII and what was spared by bullets and bombs was taken by looters.

Given the conditions of the “rifugio” in 1948, the S.A.T central board had decided to alienate it from its network and cut losses. This is when the Arco branch of S.A.T. declared it was ready to take the responsibility of a gradual renovation. In 1949 they decided a funding campaign at the Cassa Rurale di Arco (a local bank) for “all those who are friend of the mountains”, with the goal of raising enough funds for the renovation. After five years of hard work, on July 25 1954 the management of the “rifugio” went to Augusto Tambosi and then, in 1955, to Camilla Finotti.

Year after year, the management of the “rifugio” was given to the members of the Arco S.A.T. up until June 25 1989, when the “rifugio”, completely restored, was given to different managers: Roberto Leonardi, Paolo Calzà, and Matteo Calzà. In the same year, on the top of the mountain, the panoramic area “Italo Marchetti” was installed. Dedicated to the descendant and honorary president of the S.A.T. of Arco. At this site, thanks to the bronze arrows, it is possible to identify the different peaks surrounding Stivo.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary from the foundation of the S.A.T., in 2006 the Arco branch organized the 112th regional congress and a commemorative plate is placed on the wall of the “rifugio”. 

In 2014, the “rifugio” is renovated again thanks to the funds given by the S.A.T central body. On December 27th 2017, more than two years later, the “rifugio” reopened its doors under the guidance of Alberto Bighellini. 
The Stivo Mountain is appreciated everywhere for its environment, the beautiful views, and for the many sport activities that affords its visitors: skiing, exploring with snowshoes, mountain bike, trail running, parapendio, and much more. 

In 1915, once Italy joined WWI, the Society stopped all activities and in 1917 was officially dismantled by the Austrian authorities for its alleged support to Italy. During WWI, the “rifugio” was heavily damaged and in 1922 the S.A.T. central board (the Arco branch would have been established only in 1931), decided to entrust Angelo Conti from Bolognano with managing it. All activities were interrupted again by WWII and what was spared by bullets and bombs was taken by looters.

Transport of a wounded man from Monte Stivo (1911). The first carrier is the guide Angelo Conti
The Marchetti refuge with its wooden façade, dating back to the early twentieth century
Angelo Conti with some family members and Italian soldiers at the "Prospero Marchetti" refuge
Marchetti Refuge: the project of January 1953 in scale 1:50
1956: Great snowfall that year on the Stivo. This is how the Marchetti hut looked to those who, despite the snow, wanted to reach it
The last touches on the roof of the Marchetti refuge before the inauguration - 1954
The day of the inauguration: 25 July 1954

Given the conditions of the “rifugio” in 1948, the S.A.T central board had decided to alienate it from its network and cut losses. This is when the Arco branch of S.A.T. declared it was ready to take the responsibility of a gradual renovation. In 1949 they decided a funding campaign at the Cassa Rurale di Arco (a local bank) for “all those who are friend of the mountains”, with the goal of raising enough funds for the renovation. After five years of hard work, on July 25 1954 the management of the “rifugio” went to Augusto Tambosi and then, in 1955, to Camilla Finotti.

Year after year, the management of the “rifugio” was given to the members of the Arco S.A.T. up until June 25 1989, when the “rifugio”, completely restored, was given to different managers: Roberto Leonardi, Paolo Calzà, and Matteo Calzà. In the same year, on the top of the mountain, the panoramic area “Italo Marchetti” was installed. Dedicated to the descendant and honorary president of the S.A.T. of Arco. At this site, thanks to the bronze arrows, it is possible to identify the different peaks surrounding Stivo. To celebrate the 100th anniversary from the foundation of the S.A.T., in 2006 the Arco branch organized the 112th regional congress and a commemorative plate is placed on the wall of the “rifugio”. 

1989 - The highly efficient team of the Rossaro enterprise in Tione; work at height is never easy. The new wing of the refuge is about to be completed.
1989 - It is the big day of the inauguration of the new shelter. The logistic team of volunteers is ready, a hard day's work is waiting for it.
1989 - Aerial photo of the Marchetti refuge while the ski mountaineering rally was in full swing
1989 - Another important moment is the inauguration of the "Italo Marchetti Panoramic Point". Hundreds of peaks indicated by bronze arrows on a 360 degree panorama. Authors of the work Giuliano Emanuelli and Sergio Calzà (left of the photo). Near Italo Marchetti the mayor of Arco Selenio Ioppi
1989 - Don Augusto Tamburini, a long-time member of Sat, blesses the new construction. He visibly assisted the president of the section Sergio Calzà, the driving force and soul of the whole refuge operation. On the right the president of the central Sat of Trento Enrico Zobele
Marchetti Refuge before the renovation
Official inauguration of the Refuge Stivo in 2018

In 2014, the “rifugio” is renovated again thanks to the funds given by the S.A.T central body. On December 27th 2017, more than two years later, the “rifugio” reopened its doors under the guidance of Alberto Bighellini. The Stivo Mountain is appreciated everywhere for its environment, the beautiful views, and for the many sport activities that affords its visitors: skiing, exploring with snowshoes, mountain bike, trail running, parapendio, and much more.