The refuge is located at 2388 metres on the crest of Mount Portella, in the heart of the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, close to Corno Grande and the main peaks of the massif.

The Duca degli Abruzzi is a mountain refuge that can only be reached on foot with a 40-minute easy walk from Campo Imperatore (AQ), or from Prati di Tivo (TE ) with a splendid 4-hour traverse.

It does not offer great comforts, but it is a place where hikers, mountaineers and mountain lovers can find refreshment and spend the night immersed in the splendid natural environment that surrounds it.

Campo Imperatore can be reached from the A24 Roma-L'Aquila-Teramo motorway (exit 14), Assergi exit. Then continue to Fonte Cerreto, the base of the Gran Sasso d'Italia Cableway, and follow the signs (SS17 bis).

To reach the 2130 m altitude of the Campo Imperatore hotel, mountain station of the ski facilities, it is possible to use the cableway once you have arrived at Fonte Cerreto. In winter, this is the only possible access to the western part of the plateau. The main vehicular access is the SS17 bis, which remains closed due to snow during the entire winter season.Prati di Tivo can be reached from the A24 Roma-L'Aquila-Teramo motorway (exit 15), San Gabriele-Colledara tollgate. Then continue along the SP491 to Montorio and then follow the signs for Prati di Tivo.

For those coming from Bari/Ancona (A14), exit at the Teramo-Giulianova tollbooth. Follow the motorway to the Teramo Ovest exit and then follow signs first for Montorio (SS80) and then for Prati di Tivo (SP43).