Excursion Description
The excursion to Pizzi Deneri Observatory starts from 1741 m.a.s.l. at Rifugio Citelli, the only CAI refuge on the northwestern slope of the volcano. From here we begin to walk the first part of the trail within the birch forest following trail 723 in reverse.
The ascent retraces the fracture of the 1928 eruptive activity, the last one that destroyed an entire town in recent times. Continuing, we reach the first panoramic point on the northern ridge of Valle del Bove, at an altitude of about 2200 meters: from here it's possible to get a first glimpse of the volcano's summit craters, just a few km away, and especially a complete view of the vastness of Valle del Bove.
Inside it you can see Monte Simone, Rocca Musarra, Monti Centenari, Monte Rittman up to Val Calanna with the eruptive centers most distant from the current summit area. The ascent along the valley edge continues on the remains of ancient Etna eruptive centers up to Rocca della Valle, from where the final ascent section towards Pizzi Deneri begins.
The vegetation begins to thin, the landscape is lunar and barren, with an alternation of magmatic intrusion dikes inside the valley and sandy gullies full of pyroclastics on the other side, towards the sea. The ground begins to change, the air becomes heavier due to altitude and you understand the morphological importance of Valle del Leone which limits the overhanging danger of the summit area.
The Pizzi Deneri volcanological observatory is located at 2800 meters, a high-altitude laboratory built between 1975 and 1978 in an area exempt from lava invasion risk and currently the world's highest high-altitude scientific outpost. Inside, various state-of-the-art instruments allow volcano monitoring from a privileged position.
Piano delle Concazze, the sandy plateau that separates the summit cones from the observatory, represents an almost metaphysical place for its apparent calm and visual homogeneity in a place actually exposed to violent winds and gusts as well as pyroclastic material fallout during summit area paroxysms.
The descent towards Rifugio Citelli retraces some of the last ridges of the Valle and then takes a comfortable descent into the sandy gullies that, parallel to each other, accompany trekkers back towards the largest lateral cone of Etna North: Monte Frumento delle Concazze.
With an average visibility of 100-150km, the entire Peloritani chain up to the Aeolian Islands dominates, visible and clear, closing an amazing picture in the final phase of the excursion. After about 6 hours, the loop trail rejoins the initial section, closing your day in the same Birch forest of the morning, until returning to the Refuge.
What the excursion includes
- Authorized volcanological guide;
- Helmet for high summit altitudes;
- Trekking poles.
Book your Etna adventure
Experience a unique adventure reaching the world's highest volcanological observatory. Contact us to book your excursion to Pizzi Deneri Observatory.
- The program may vary during the day due to variable weather and volcanic conditions.
- Good physical condition is required for the described activities.
- The excursion is not recommended for those suffering from asthma or heart problems.
- The minimum number to confirm the excursion is 3 adults (360€). If this number is not reached, the equivalent fee must be considered to confirm the excursion privately.
- Basic volcanological conditions foresee no presence of volcanic gases, but are subject to change based on weather.
- Terrain type: fine volcanic sand, unstable and abrasive volcanic rocks, steep slopes.
