Driving Directions: MOUNT ETNA Mt. Etna Nord.
Take a left from the NAS 1 gate, and follow SS192 for about 3km. ABOUT MOUNT ETNA Get on the A19 (Catania- Palermo) going towards Catania. Sicily’s Mt. Etna is Europe’s largest and
most active volcano, with eruptions about every other year since 2000. In the
After about 5km, get on the 1600s, a major Etna south eruption Tangenziale heading to the A18 covered the town of Nicolosi with lava (Catania-Messina). flowing all the way to Catania. In ancient times, Greeks believed Etna was home to the one-eyed Cyclops. Exit at Fuimefreddo, where
you’ll pay a toll, and follow the On Etna’s south Rifugio during the yellow signs for Mt. Etna. These summer, funivia (cable cars) take you to will lead you to Piano about 3,500 meters for a visit to the Provenanza. craters and peaks, where the volcano is most active. On clear days, you can see
across the bay down to Siracusa. Various Mt. Etna Sud. species of oak and stone pine, as well as birch and beech, cover much of the Exit right from the NAS 1 gate. mountain’s sloped surface. After 1km, turn left toward Motta St. Anastasia, following Etna offers some of island’s best hiking, the blue or green signs to camping, mountain biking, sightseeing, Catania. skiing, and snowboarding.
After Motta, turn left at the blue
sign for Paterno and follow signs MWR SIGONELLA for Belpasso and Etna Sud. PSC 812 BOX 3390
FPO, AE 09627-3390
After the town of Belpasso, follow signs for Etna Sud and DSN: 624.4777 Rifugio Sapienza. COMMERCIAL: 011.39.095.86.4777
Mount Etna per day. The full trip from Catania to INFORMATION Riposto is about 3 hours. It is recommended that you leave a car in Riposto or take a connecting train back Tourist Office: Nicolosi and Etna Sud, POINTS OF INTEREST to Catania along the coast. Phone: Via Garibaldi, 63. 095.911.505 Piano Provenanza – Nord. Climb to 095.541.246 the summit craters by foot (if you want a Catania Provencial Tourist Office: long hike), or in all terrain vehicles Via Domenico Cimarosa, 10. belonging to the tour company “Star” 095.730.6233 (095.643.430). Once there, alpine guides will accompany visitors to the middle crater. Cost is around 20 euro. Mountain guides available in Linguaglossa (347.902.8236).
Rifugio Sapienza – Sud. The summit is reachable by foot, cable car, or all terrain vehicles. The new crater is reachable from here with about 20 minutes of moderate to strenuous hiking. Mountain guides are also available in Nicolosi (095.791.4755).
During winter, Mt. Etna is open for skiing and snowboarding.
Off-Road Excursions. “Slam Tours,” located in Motta St. Anastasia, offers full day trips on and around Etna in off-road vehicles. The cost is about $75 per person.
Circumetnea. Another option for seeing Etna is taking the Circumetnea, a train that stops in the town around the base of Etna. The train departs from Catania, making stops in Misterbianco, Piano Tavola, Paterno, and continuing on until the last stop at Riposto on the coast north of Acireale. The train runs Monday through Saturday, with 5 trains