There are life choices born from a deep love for the mountains. This is the case of Eduardo Santoro and Simonetta De Rosa, who 14 years ago decided to move permanently to an altitude of 1,400 meters, transforming an abandoned old road keeper’s house into a welcoming mountain hut in the heart of the Sila National Park.
Since 2011 they have been living in and managing the Rifugio Casello Margherita, a unique place where the silence of the ancient white fir forests blends with the voices of hikers from all over the world.
Nature, trekking, and year-round activities
The hut offers 12 beds in three rooms and is open all year round with a rich program of activities: trekking, winter snowshoeing, long hikes, themed trails, and guided tours to discover the secrets of Sila.
It is the ideal place for those seeking a sustainable holiday, far from mass tourism and close to nature.
Eduardo, an environmental hiking guide for over 25 years, explains:
“We love listening to the stories of travelers who reach our refuge. For us, welcoming them is not just a job, but a way of life. We wanted to create the first mountain hut of the Park, convinced that the highlands deserve to be truly experienced.”
An authentic eco-friendly refuge, not a restaurant
Casello Margherita is not a restaurant, but a true mountain hut. Every guest is welcomed warmly, as long as they respect the philosophy of the place: to experience the mountains slowly, without rushing through them.
“If someone wants to come by car just for lunch, we say no. The hut and the mountains deserve time, silence and walking,” explains Eduardo.
A countercultural choice that puts at the center the respect for the mountains and the authentic experience of slow travel.
Everyday life at 1,400 meters
Today the refuge has also become home to Eduardo and Simonetta’s two children, aged 10 and 12, who have grown up among the forests of Sila.
Life at high altitude is not without difficulties: every need requires going down to the valley, from daily shopping to taking the children to school.
And yet, despite the challenges, the couple wouldn’t change a thing.
“We are truly happy with our life here. It is demanding, of course, but we could not imagine ourselves anywhere else.”
