Etna Est

Welcome to Etna Est, the eastern flank of the most active and iconic volcano in Europe. As you stand on this scorched earth, you are in the presence of a mountain that has been active for roughly half a million years and…

Rifugio Sapienza, located at approximately 1,900 meters, is the primary hub for those exploring the southern and eastern slopes of Mount Etna. Originally a mountain refuge, it has evolved into a bustling center with restaurants,…

Just a short walk from Rifugio Sapienza are the Crateri Silvestri, a pair of extinct volcanic cones formed during a significant eruption in 1892. These craters are one of the most accessible ways for visitors to experience the…

To reach the higher plateaus of Etna Est, most visitors take the 'Funivia dell'Etna,' a modern cable car system that whisks you from 1,900 meters to 2,500 meters in about fifteen minutes. As the gondola rises, the world below…

For those wishing to go even higher, the journey continues from the 2,500-meter station aboard specially modified four-wheel-drive vehicles. These powerful buses navigate the rugged, unpaved service roads that snake through the…

The Barbagallo Craters are the remnants of a significant eruption that occurred between 2002 and 2003. This event was particularly dramatic, causing damage to the tourist infrastructure and creating these massive new vents on the…

As you descend from the barren heights of Etna Est, the landscape transforms once again as you reach the lower slopes, between 400 and 1,000 meters. This is the realm of Etna's famous vineyards. …

As you leave Etna Est and descend toward the coast, take a final look back at the majestic silhouette of the volcano. You have journeyed through a landscape that is in a constant state of creation and destruction, a place where…