Pizzi Deneri Observatory Route

The Pizzi Deneri route is a long mountain walk on the north-east side of Mount Etna, in the province of Catania, Sicily, leading to the Pizzi Deneri volcanological observatory at roughly 2,850 m. The route starts at Piano Provenzana in the comune of Linguaglossa, reached by car from Catania in about 1 hour 15 minutes via the Mareneve road; there is no regular public transport, and parking is available at the resort area. The walk involves about 1,100 m of ascent and is not published as a single distance figure. Walkers should allow 5 to 6 hours for the climb and about 2 hours for the descent. This places it at the hard end of the scale: the effort is sustained, the altitude is considerable, and the route is exposed to wind and sun above the tree line. The first part of the route runs through pine and birch woodland, offering some shade, before it opens onto black volcanic sand, cinder and lava rock with little cover. Footing is loose in places and the terrain is open, so navigation in mist needs care. The main landmark is the observatory at the top, from which visitors can see the summit craters, the Valle del Bove and the Ionian coast. For those not wishing to walk, 4x4 tours cover the same objective. The objective is just under 2,900 m, but the route is cancelled when summit-zone ordinances apply, and the INGV bulletin should be checked beforehand. There is no reliable water source on the route, and walkers should carry about 3 litres of water plus food, along with windproof clothing, hat and gloves, because the weather can change quickly at altitude. The recommended turn-around point is whenever cloud, wind or alert-level restrictions make progress unsafe, and walkers can descend by the same path to Piano Provenzana. Shelter on the route is limited, so an early start gives the best margin for the long day.