At 1,425 meters above sea level, it has been refurbished at the expense of the Regole d’Ampezzo. The new manager is young and full of initiatives: Alberto Alverà takes over Sandra Dibona
CORTINA. The Lago d’Ajal refuge reopens tomorrow, completely renovated and under new management. Alberto Alverà, born in 1992, ampezzano, has decided to embark on this adventure by winning the tender of the Regole d’Ampezzo for the management of the structure: a small jewel immersed in a natural paradise, at an altitude of 1. 425, which is reflected in the waters of the lake of the same name.
Alverà’s determination
“After the expansion and renovation works, I’m really happy to be able to open”, enthuses Alverà, “my project is certainly ambitious, but I don’t lack the desire to do well”. Vitae montis: these are the two words that contain the essence of the hospitality of the Ajal refuge. «Mountain vine», explains Alverà, «to identify both life at high altitude with its difficulties, but also with immense satisfaction, and also“ vine ”understood as a grape and therefore a wine to be savored in a unique context». The mountains and wine are precisely the two elements that tell and identify this entrepreneur. They will be the stylistic code of the restaurant and the kitchen. The cuisine is linked to the territory, with great attention to raw materials and products at zero km, enriched by a well-kept cellar.
The restyling
The refuge is enlarged and renovated. The profound restyling of the structure was carried out in full respect of the context in which it is located and enhances the characteristic features of Ampezzo craftsmanship: it is impossible not to be enchanted by the traditional stube that welcomes guests in the room. A little gem for those who want to take a break from the daily frenzy are the two small suites, equipped with all comforts and enriched by a priceless view of the lake, for an unforgettable awakening. The work involved an extension of 223 cubic meters, carried out at the expense of the Regole, on a project drawn up by Andrea Bernardi. In addition to the bar and restaurant, kitchens and warehouses, four rooms with bathrooms have been created. The project also included an intervention on the technological networks necessary for the supply of drinking water and electricity, as the refuge was not connected to the distribution. The tourist activity on the Ajal lake will be full again from tomorrow.
A century of history
An activity that dates back over a century ago. At the time there was only a small wooden house where travelers found a refreshment point and the possibility of renting boats to paddle on the wonderful lake of Ajal. In 1957 the management was entrusted to the Dibona family who, between 1959 and 1960, arranged the refuge; Sandra Dibona managed the facility until December 2017, when the contract expired. From tomorrow it will be the young Alberto Alverà, with his enthusiasm and kindness, who will welcome tourists and people from the valley in one of the most beautiful places in the Ampezzo Dolomites.