Refuge Prato della Cipolla

Rifugio Prato della Cipolla sits at 1,612m in the Ligurian Apennines, on the watershed ridge between the Maritime Alps and the Appennino Ligure. Reach it from Passo del Ceretta (1,541m) via a straightforward 1.5-hour walk on mule track and footpath. The hut works well as a base for ridge traverses toward Monte Saccarello (2,201m) to the west or day walks across the high pastures that give the refuge its name—the "onion meadows."

The rifugio is family-run and modest. It has 25 beds in shared rooms and serves simple mountain food: hearty pasta, local cheeses, and salumi. There's a small bar. Water comes from a spring. The hut opens year-round but is quiet in winter; expect reliable service May through October. Camping is not permitted.

Book by phone directly with the refuge. July and August fill 4–6 weeks ahead, especially for weekends. The hut is popular with CAI groups, so midweek visits are easier outside peak season. Summer afternoons bring day-trippers from the car park at Passo del Ceretta, but overnight guests rarely feel crowded. The kitchen closes at 8pm, so eat dinner when it's served rather than late.