To Rifugio Col Gallina and the Anguane Lake

Description

From the Bai de Dones car park, head towards the start of the Cinque Torri chairlift and take path 424, located to the right of the mountain hut. Follow the path for about an hour until you reach the Rifugio Col Gallina, an eco-friendly, Alpine-style structure made of wood and stone and nestled in the heart of the Dolomites at an altitude of 2,055 metres. The mountain hut is located in a very accessible position on the Passo Falzarego and enjoys a privileged view of Monte Lagazuoi, which looms imposingly behind it. The large green lawn surrounding the mountain hut is a perfect place to relax on comfortable loungers and, for the little ones, to have fun in the playground, with inflatables, swings and slides. On the return journey, follow the same route as on the outward journey, which takes about 45 minutes to return to the starting point. Once you have reached Rifugio Bai de Dones, before returning to the car park, continue along path 424 for a few hundred metres until you reach the romantic Lago Bai de Dones, literally “the women's bath”. In fact, the lake is said to be inhabited by the Anguane, enchanting water nymphs of Ladin-Ampezzan tradition, disfigured, however, by goat's feet. It is said that after a thunderstorm, the torrents descend so turbulently that the water becomes cloudy because up above, the anguane are doing their laundry. There are good anguane, benevolent protectors of man, but there are also bad ones, similar to witches: ambiguous, mysterious and fearsome. Lago Bai de Dones is said to be inhabited by good anguane who help women who desire a child to soon have the joy of motherhood, if they bathe in the waters of the magical lake. You can admire a depiction of these mythological creatures, servants of the God Silvanus, at the entrance to the Rifugio Bai de Dones, named after this enchanting stretch of water. It is also worth stopping at the mountain hut to savour the cuisine anchored in high mountain tradition. The speciality of the house is game. Make sure you try the local Ampezzo dishes, such as the red casunziei with beets or green with spinach and ricotta cheese, which you can enjoy on the large sun terrace.