When it comes to retreats in remote settings, it’s an oft-repeated trope that guests get to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life and indulge in the beauty of simple things; the reality however is that only a few destinations truly deliver on that promise. One of these is Santnerpass hut, a mountain shelter at the heart of the Dolomites in northern Italy. Perched at an altitude of 2,734 metres at the second highest peak of the UNESCO world heritage-listed Rosengarten Mountain Range, the hut can only be reached on foot via a two or three hour hike, which in combination with the dramatic vistas, makes it a veritable getaway.
Ordinally built in 1956 by local mountain guide Giulio Gabrielli, the hut had remained closed for five years when young couple Michel Perathoner and Romina Huber took it upon themselves to breathe new life into it in 2018, re-opening it a year later. Not ones to rest on their laurels, they later oversaw a complete re-design, courtesy of Bolzano-based Senoner Tammerle Architekten whose contemporary take on the alpine vernacular makes for a breathtaking result. Inaugurated last summer, Santnerpass hut’s striking architecture and minimalist sophistication is complemented by the couple’s hand-on hospitality – Michel works in the kitchen while Romina serves guests.