Etna volcano

Etna is a major attraction of Sicily. The height of the volcano is about 3.3 km and on the south coast it is visible from Syracuse to Taormina. The volcano has erupted repeatedly, destroying various towns on its slopes and even a major city Catania.


Recently Etna erupts frequently. We were on the volcano on 28 November 2015, and one week later began the biggest eruption in the last 20 years.

It's quite easuy to visit Enta. At 8:15 a tourist bus leaves from the train station in Catania. Buy tickets on the bus after the departure. At the end of November there were many tourists, so in the summer time it is good idea to come earlier.


The bus takes you to the tourist camp Rifugio Sapienza (http://www.rifugiosapienza.com) which is located on an altitude of 1900 meters. Here are hotels, restaurants and shops. Craters are also can be found here, so some tourists did not even continue the visit.




Bus is waiting for about 6 hours and at 16:30 starts to Catania (schedule).

From Refuge Sapienza you can go up by cable car (opening times) that takes you to an altitude of 2500 meters. Ticket price is about 30 euro. It is expensive, but Italians have no choice as volcano periodically destroys the cable car.


In summer time when there is no snow on the slopes the standard visit includes cable car and a jeep ride to the craters (60 EUR).

At the end of November there was about one meter of snow and jeeps were frozen. So, we just went for a walk on foot, it's easy. Before we had rented warm shoes at the top station of the cable car.


In general, walking alone to the craters is not good idea, though not prohibited. The fact that the eruption may begin at any time, even without an earth tremor. Just don't be idiots.

Locations of the main craters can be seen on the next map or on wikimapia.


If you are not going to approach close to the craters, like us, then you don't need any guides or jeeps. By the way, there are professional guides near Refuge Sapienza (http://www.etnaguide.eu).


In the summer time, usually there is no snow, but in Novermber a lot.






Smoking crater


This dog was running with us.


From time to time clouds close the sun.


Getting there: On the tourist bus from the railway station in Catania or by private car.