With a day left in the Italian leg of our trip, we wanted to be near Catania--and somewhat close to the airport. After evaluating the options on the eastern side of the island--none of them bad--we decided to visit the top of Mt. Etna. As long as the volcano didn’t blow--it could be a fun way to end the trip.
We were able to book rooms in the famed Sapienza Refuge, which sits 1900 meters (about a mile and a quarter) above see level, and provides access to the trails that wind up to the top of the western crater. While palm trees are common in nearby Catania, Mt. Etna is so tall (rising 3,350 m (11,000 ft), it is a common skiing destination in the winter. In mid-October, however, it is a popular place for hiking--with trails winding up to the top of one of the major craters.
Having experienced major lava flows throughout recorded history--as recently as 2011, when the Sapienza Refuge just barely escaped destruction by a lava flow--the entire landscape at the elevation of the lodge up to the crater is dried lava. There are no trees or any other vegetation. From the lodge, we jumped on a lift, which carried us 2500 meters to a series of trails that--after about 2 hours and another 500 meters, arrives at the crater (the highest point hikers are permitted to ascend without special permit). Well worth the effort!
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