Silvestri Craters, next to the Rifugio Sapienza

The Silvestri Craters are the cones left by the 1892 eruption on the southern slope of Etna, at about 1,900 m, right beside the road and opposite the Rifugio Sapienza. You can walk round them and up to their rim in under an hour, with no guide or entry fee. It is the first contact with the volcano for anyone with children or who does not want to go higher.

What you see and why it matters

The eruption began on 9 July 1892 and lasted 173 days, until 29 December. It opened a row of five craters between 2,025 and 1,800 m, and its lava flow ran about 7 km down the slope. The two main cones, the Upper and the Lower, were named that same year after the volcanologist Orazio Silvestri, who studied the eruption.

From the rim you look into the craters, with their reddish and black walls of scoria, and around you see a landscape of lava and lapilli with almost no vegetation. To the north, the summit of Etna, often with its plume of steam; to the south, on clear days, the Catania plain and the sea.

The walk

The provincial road SP 92, which climbs from Nicolosi and descends towards Zafferana Etnea, passes right between the two cones. From the car park, climb the marked lapilli paths to the rim of the cone you choose, walk round the crater along the top and come back down. The ground is loose volcanic sand: you go up slowly, but without difficulty. Allow about 45 minutes for one of the cones and a little longer if you do both.

Walk only on the marked paths: the ash gives way and off the paths you spoil the landscape.

Getting there and parking

By car, drive up from Catania through Nicolosi following the signs for Etna Sud and the Rifugio Sapienza, along the SP 92. At the top you park on the esplanade of the Rifugio Sapienza, next to the Funivia dell'Etna station, a few steps from the craters. Without a car, check whether there is a regular bus from Catania to the Rifugio Sapienza on your travel date and what time it returns; if it does not fit, organised excursions from Catania come up here.

When to go

All year, in good weather. At 1,900 m it is a lot colder than on the coast: in winter there may be snow on the cones and on the road, so have your car prepared. In summer, go early or at the end of the afternoon: the black sand burns in the midday sun. The wind often blows and fog can roll in within minutes.

In the afternoon the low light on the lava is the best for photography. As there is no shade or water, always carry a bottle.

Facilities

Next to the car park, on the Rifugio Sapienza esplanade, there are bars, restaurants, souvenir shops and toilets. The Funivia dell'Etna and the guides to the summit craters and the Valle del Bove leave from there.

With children and dogs

It is the volcanic excursion made to measure for children: short, safe and very visual. Wear closed shoes, because volcanic sand gets into sandals and scratches. With a pushchair you cannot go up to the rim, but you can move around the flat area of the car park. Dogs are allowed, on a lead; the scoria is rough on their paws.