Capanna Punta Penia, Mountain shelter at Marmolada summit, Italy
Capanna Punta Penia is a mountain hut perched on the Marmolada summit in the Dolomites, at 3,340 feet (3,340 m) above sea level. It has space for nine guests in basic sleeping quarters and offers only the most essential facilities.
A mountain guide from Alba di Canazei built the hut in the 1940s using materials recovered from an Austrian military installation left behind after World War I. The Marmolada glacier had been a front line during that war, which left behind structures and traces that locals later made use of.
The hut sits at the top of the Marmolada and draws climbers from many countries who stop there on their way to or from the summit. Sharing a small space with strangers overnight is part of what many visitors remember most about the experience.
Because the hut is very small, it is a good idea to contact the managers ahead of time to check availability and ask about the approach. Bringing a sleeping liner and a headlamp is recommended, as the facilities are kept to a minimum.
Beneath the Marmolada glacier lies a system of tunnels dug by Austrian soldiers during World War I, which housed thousands of men underground. Visitors staying at the hut are directly above this buried complex without most of them realizing it.
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