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Sleeping high up

Mountain huts in the Madonie

In the Madonie the only staffed mountain hut we have confirmed as open in winter too is the Rifugio Giuliano Marini at Piano Battaglia, with 18 rooms and 68 beds. The other huts on the list are around Piano Battaglia and Isnello and at Piano Pomo, above Castelbuono: for many we have no news on opening and management, so always call before you drive up.

7 places to stay

Mountain huts in the Madonie

Opening hours, prices and seasons change: call before you go.

Which mountain huts are there in the Madonie?

The huts are in two areas.

  • Piano Battaglia and Piano Zucchi, in the heart of the massif, between Petralia Sottana and Isnello: here are the Rifugio Giuliano Marini and the Rifugio Il Grifone, plus a few places registered in the Isnello area.
  • Piano Pomo and the woods above Castelbuono: here you find the Crispi and Morici huts and the Pagghiaru of Piano Pomo, among beech and holly trees.

The list above comes from OpenStreetMap. We remove places that appear to be closed, such as the Rifugio Orestano at Piano Zucchi; for the others, the date of the last check and the contact details next to each name matter: if there is no phone or website, do not assume it is open.

What do we know about opening and management?

For the Rifugio Marini, yes: the manager keeps it open in snowy weather too, and for Easter 2026, with the plateau still white, offered lunches and two-night stays.

For the Piano Pomo huts we have no sources on management and opening, and we give no hours. The Rifugio Orestano at Piano Zucchi appears to be closed. For the Ostello della Gioventù at Piano Battaglia, which still shows up in the list, we found no recent news or working contacts: do not assume it is open until you have spoken to someone.

If you are looking for a bed to ski or snowshoe, read the guide to huts open in winter near Piano Battaglia, with places within 6 km of the slopes.

What can you do from a hut?

From Piano Battaglia starts the Pizzo Carbonara loop, to the highest peak in the Madonie. In winter the plateau has the Piano Battaglia ski runs. Before you drive up, check the Piano Battaglia weather.

If everything up high is full, head down to a village: where to stay in Petralia Sottana and where to stay in Isnello. Other options are in where to stay in the Madonie.

Frequently asked questions

Are there mountain huts open all year in the Madonie?
The Rifugio Giuliano Marini, at the foot of Monte Mufara at Piano Battaglia, is offered by its manager in snowy weather too: it has 18 rooms with bathroom, 68 beds and a restaurant. For the other huts we have no up-to-date sources on winter opening. Bookings at the Marini: +39 335 7772269.
Is the Rifugio Orestano at Piano Zucchi open?
It appears to be closed. According to the Metropolitan City of Palermo it was a landmark until 2008 and is among the buildings to be relaunched. It still appears on many maps, but we do not list it among the places to stay.
Are there bivouacs or free huts for the night?
We have no sources on unstaffed huts or bivouacs open in the Madonie, so we do not list any. For a night up high, the only confirmed option is the Rifugio Marini. Otherwise sleep in Petralia Sottana or Polizzi Generosa, 20 to 25 minutes' drive from Piano Battaglia.
Can you eat at the huts without staying the night?
At Piano Battaglia the Locanda Alte Madonie, the restaurant of the Rifugio Marini, is one of the places to eat on the plateau, together with the Ristoro Lo Scoiattolo. The Rifugio Grifone, on the SP54 just before the plateau, is now mainly a place to eat and the base of an environmental education centre.
How do you get to the Piano Battaglia huts?
By car on the SP54: about 18 km from Petralia Sottana, about 17 km from Polizzi Generosa, about 24 km from Isnello via Piano Zucchi. In winter you may need chains or winter tyres on the roads in the area: check the notices before you leave.

Sources

Page updated on 19 October 2026