Margherita Hut

The Margherita Hut (Italian: Capanna Regina Margherita, French: Cabane reine Marguerite) is a mountain hut belonging to the Italian Alpine Club, located on the summit of Punta Gnifetti (Signalkuppe) of Monte Rosa, a mountain massif of the Alps lying near the border between Italy and Switzerland.

It was originally opened in 1893 as a research station for high altitude medicine which it still is, but also serves as a simply equipped mountain hut for alpinists.

The hut was pre-built in the valley, then brought to its final destination by mule and then by men, and assembled on site.

From summer 2017, the performance of civil marriage ceremonies within the Margherita Hut was authorised by the mayor of the nearest town, Alagna Valsesia.

However, couples wishing to get married will be unable to arrive by helicopter, and will still have to make the long glacier hike via one of the normal mountaineering routes.

Monte Rosa massif, with Signalkuppe and Margherita Hut (visible on second skyline peak from the left)
Margherita Hut visible in full length from the side
Aerial photo of the hut (1995)