Italian Alpine Club

The Italian Alpine Club (CAI) is the oldest and largest association of friends and enthusiasts of Alpinism and the mountain in Italy.

History The idea of ​​founding a club that reunited the Italian mountaineers was in the mind of Quintino Sella, and on August 12, 1863, on the occasion of an ascension of Monviso, inspired by similar associations existing in other European countries as Austria and Switzerland. The official foundation of the club took place on October 23, 1863, at Castello del Valentino in Turin.

The first president-elect of the CAI was Baron Ferdinando Perone de San Martino. The CAI had its first headquarters in Turin. Soon new venues were opened in other Italian cities. Due to the first world war the CAI absorbed the Società degli Alpinisti Tridentini (in 1920) and the Società Alpina delle Giulie. Activities

There are over 700 refuges, bivouac and other alpine structures managed by the CAI. Nowadays there are numerous sessions, schools and courses of mountaineering that organizes favoring the knowledge of the mountain and the security measures that must be observed.

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