Restoration of Campei Mountain Huts and Road Improvements in Valle Sabbia
“For the Campei di Cima mountain huts, inaugurated last October 1st, there’s still work to be done: little on the buildings, much on the roads.” Fabio Pasini, the president of Monte Suello, the association that groups the Alpini from the Brescia shore of the lake and Valle Sabbia, takes the opportunity of the annual assembly to explain the situation. “Most of the road from Degagna to Campei has been fixed, thanks to a contribution from the Valle Sabbia Mountain Community, through the municipality of Vobarno. Now, weather permitting, we will start fixing the road from Gaino (Toscolano). The Upper Garda Park Mountain Community has granted a contribution — announces Pasini —. In the meantime, we have appointed a manager (Tarcisio Romuli of Salò) and two financial coordinators (Marco Comini of Gavardo and Peppino Granata of Desenzano), all coordinated by Vice President Giambi Turina.”
Interventions and Structures
“We have also identified a team of technicians comprising Engineer Zanelli, Architect Moschini, and Surveyor Bendotti, to safeguard the structure and accesses. The Campei buildings should be a reference point for passing tourists, schools wanting to use them for educational purposes, summer youth programs, scouts, and many other initiatives. But they will only be vital if the Alpini also frequent them, the primary beneficiaries of this work, which will be part of the history of the entire National Association. Only by visiting the… small ancient village will we prevent the great work from being wasted.”
The old barn, now dedicated to the battalion “Valchiese,” has been completely rebuilt and transformed into a hall capable of hosting 150 people, in addition to the kitchen, pantry, large fireplace, services, and about ten beds. Foundations were reconstructed by excavating the rock that occupied much of the area. On the ground floor, another beautiful room has been created. Entirely built with exposed stone columns and wooden beams. One of the rooms still contains an “sicer” dating back to 1711.
The second building, smaller, will serve as a bivouac for those passing through who want to rest or dry their clothes. The old farmhouse, dedicated to the battalion “Monte Suello,” will always have its door open. About fifteen fireplaces inside and outside are ready to burn wood or cook meats. The third, the main house, spread over two floors, is named “Vestone” and includes a couple of dormitories (20 bunk beds), services, etc. At the entrance, the communal area with tables and the characteristic fireplace. There is also an underground cellar.
The unsafe part has been demolished; waterproofing, slabs, chimneys, and windows have been installed. Outside, on one wall, an old inscription, “Otia procul negotiis fecunda,” has been roughly translated to “to relax, you must stop working.” Regarding the small church, a bit isolated, the underground walls and face have been reconstructed, along with the beams and tiles.
History and Works
Every year on August 5th, the feast of St. Mary of the Snow was celebrated, with pilgrimages from the lake. Over five years, about a thousand Alpini members participated, working 5,800 days for a total of 50,000 hours. Valued at 30,000 lire per hour, this amounts to about one and a half billion lire in labor cost.
The Regional Forest Enterprise, owner of the properties, allocated funds for the purchase of bricks, cement, and timber (around 400 million lire), reserving a couple of rooms and three small bedrooms. Thanks to a 25-year agreement, Monte Suello will manage the Campei mountain hut.
Besides the road, there are plans to improve the external fittings: washbasins for passersby, a barbecue, and a shed for materials. The Alpini identified a spring located 300 meters away, laid pipes, and installed a 27-cubic-meter collection tank (27,000 liters of water), along with two smaller containment and decanting tanks.
The Vobarno Trailer donated a 20-kilowatt generator, more powerful than the previous one. The goal of the project: to turn Campei into a green oasis, open to those who love the tranquility of the inland areas.
