Mount Etna is one of the most famous and active volcanoes of the world due to its central location within the Mediterranean Sea and its almost persistent eruptive activity. Eruptions occur mostly at the top of the volcano and range from silent lava effusion to mild and/or violent explosive episodes. The trip within WMO will consist on an excursion at top of Mt Etna. In particular, we will start from Rifugio Sapienza in the south flank of the volcano (~1900 m), where by cableway we reach 2500 m. From there by off-road bus we will go up to Torre del Filosofo, at 3000 m the highest viewpoint of Mt. Etna at the foot of the central craters. There we will visit the eruptive explosive cone of the 2002-2003 eruption and recent lava flows issued in the recent eruption in the surrounding area. From there we will have the impressive view of the smoking central craters and the Valle del Bove, an amphitheater-shaped depression in the eastern side of the volcano. We will spent a short lunch standing in front of the impressive panorama of eastern cost Sicily, spotting the mediaeval city of Taormina, the Calabrian coasts, the Catania and Siracusa gulfs.
- Location: South flank of Mt. Etna
- Timing: from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Difficult: easy and accessible to everyone.
- Recommended Equipment: sturdy shoes, adequate clothes according to the weather, a bottle of water, Sunscreen, sunglass. Mind that temperature at higher altitude may be lower (about 10° to 15° degrees lower than in Catania).
- Note: In case of bad weather conditions that prevent to access to the summit area of the volcano the itinerary may change to middle-altitude Mt. Etna excursion. Access to the summit area craters may be restricted at any time due to changing volcanic conditions.
