Mount Etna

Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, and is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Its summit elevation is approximately 3,329 metres, but height and summit morphology change over time because of eruptions.

Attractions include lava flows, summit crater visits when conditions permit, and landscape features such as the large Valle del Bove depression. The volcano supports agricultural slopes planted with vineyards and orchards at lower elevations, while higher areas are used for hiking and, seasonally, skiing.

Recorded eruptions date back millennia and Etna has had frequent eruptions in historic and modern times; these events have repeatedly reshaped its summit craters and slopes. The volcano is managed with monitoring and safety measures to reduce risk to nearby communities.

Geographically Etna sits on Sicily’s northeastern flank, roughly 30 kilometres north of Catania and adjacent to the Ionian Sea, dominating the surrounding coastal plain.

• Height: Rises to about 3,329 metres above sea level though the summit elevation changes over time with eruptions and lava deposition.
• Access and safety: Protected within a regional park established for conservation and public safety; access to the summit area is often restricted during active eruptions.

What to See #

• Summit craters: The summit crater complex at the volcano's peak where recent explosive and effusive eruptions originate and where height varies with eruptive deposits.
• Valle del Bove: The Valle del Bove, a large collapse amphitheatre on the eastern flank formed by past flank failures and often used as a reference feature for eruptions.
• South-side access and huts: Visitor facilities and access points on the southern side such as mountain huts, cable car and ski lifts used in winter and for guided hikes.