Starting the story of this place with her felt like the most natural thing to do. his is the first article of our blog, and we chose to dedicate it to Alba Maria De Luca: the name engraved on the facade of Rifugio Venezia, and in the hearts of those who truly know these mountains.

It was 1948. Alba Maria was eighteen years old, raised between summer holidays in Borca di Cadore and a deep love for nature. Bright, sensitive, with a unique way of seeing and telling the mountain. That summer, with a small climbing party led by an experienced mountaineer and her father, she faced the ascent of Croda da Lago, a majestic and demanding peak in the Dolomites. She wasn’t alone, but the way she lived that experience was deeply personal. Reaching the summit, she turned to the horizon and spoke words that have stayed with us: “The most beautiful day of my life.” A few hours later, on the north side of the mountain, a tragic fall took her life. She was only 18.

Three years later, in 1951, the CAI section of Venice, together with the De Luca family, decided to name this mountain hut after her. A simple and powerful gesture, to keep her memory alive. Because Alba Maria had loved these mountains deeply. And because, for those who stop here, her story becomes a silent companion.

Today, many who walk past the Rifugio Venezia may not know her story. But every time that name is read on the wall, there’s a pause. Because Alba Maria De Luca is more than a dedication. She’s an invitation to live the mountains with respect, emotion, and gratitude. Just as she did.<