{"id":68525,"date":"2015-08-15T09:44:44","date_gmt":"2015-08-15T08:44:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/?p=68525"},"modified":"2026-10-14T11:10:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T10:10:32","slug":"mount-etna-and-park-excursions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/en\/mount-etna-and-park-excursions","title":{"rendered":"Mount Etna and park excursions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Landscapes of the volcano<\/h2>\n\n

Around the central crater of Etna<\/strong><\/a>, 3323 metres high, there are many secondary craters.
As you progress along its slopes, the landscape changes a great deal. Thus up to 2000 metres the nature is composed of rich and luxuriant vegetation, where citrus fruits and vines grow, whereas below 1300 metres pines, oaks, chestnut trees, beech trees and others dominate.
Between 2000 and 2500 metres, only junipers, mosses, wormwoods, and endemic species such as the Etna violet grow.
Higher up the landscape becomes almost lunar.<\/p>\n

Excursions and ascent of Etna<\/h2>\n

One possibility for discovering the flanks of Etna is to take the Circumetnea<\/strong><\/a>, a small train that makes three quarters of the tour of the volcano in nearly 3 hours, over 110 km, crossing villages and lava flows, linking Catania to Riposto. It is not a closed loop, but one can take a train on the Messina-Catania line to close the tour (see the article on the circumetnea<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\"etna-park-info-map\"<\/a>

General map of the surroundings of Etna<\/p><\/div>\n

Two roads<\/strong> climb part of the flanks of the mountain: one to the north-east which reaches the Piano Provenzana<\/strong> refuge, and the other to the south which leads to the Sapienza<\/strong> refuge. The latter is served by public transport, whereas the north side is perhaps the most spectacular.
These two refuges are the main starting points for making the rest of the ascent on foot. Access may be restricted, or even forbidden, if the volcano is in a period of activity.<\/p>\n

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