2002 Crater Excursion - Northern Etna

Piano Provenzana, on Mount Etna’s north side, is easy to reach by private or rental car along fully paved public roads. Surrounded by pine forest and dramatic lava fields, the area was reshaped by the October 2002 eruption, which destroyed the original facilities and left a striking volcanic landscape of historic interest. You’ll find souvenir shops, cafés and bars for breakfast, lunch or coffee, plus spots to refill water bottles. In winter it serves as a Ski Resort; in summer it becomes the starting point for guided hikes and excursions. Blue-lined parking areas welcome cars and camper vans. If you’ve booked a tour, meet your volcanological guide directly on-site meeting points. Less crowded than other Etna stations, Piano Provenzana offers a quiet, authentic way to experience Europe’s highest active volcano.

This guided hike explores the wild, less-touristic north side of Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano. Walk across the vast 7.2 km lava flow of the 27 Oct 2002 eruption, where hotels, shops, restaurants and a large car park now lie buried—only the roof of one hotel remains visible. Continue through forest to the 1911 and 1923 flows and a chain of 1911 craters with shafts 7–40 m deep, then climb the crest of the huge 2002 eruptive fracture, a canyon strewn with volcanic bombs, reaching the vent that produced the destructive flow and other large explosive mouths up to 2,100 m. Descend via soft ash channels through beech forest and ski slopes back to the start. The hike is ≈5 km round trip, with ≈300 m ascent/descent, lasting about 2.5–3 hours.

Piano Provenzana, on Mount Etna’s north side, is easy to reach by private or rental car along fully paved public roads. Surrounded by pine forest and dramatic lava fields, the area was reshaped by the October 2002 eruption, which destroyed the original facilities and left a striking volcanic landscape of historic interest. You’ll find souvenir shops, cafés and bars for breakfast, lunch or coffee, plus spots to refill water bottles. In winter it serves as a Ski Resort; in summer it becomes the starting point for guided hikes and excursions. Blue-lined parking areas welcome cars and camper vans. If you’ve booked a tour, meet your volcanological guide directly on-site meeting points. Less crowded than other Etna stations, Piano Provenzana offers a quiet, authentic way to experience Europe’s highest active volcano.