Monti Silvestri, Monti Calcarazzi and Montagnola (Etna, Sicily)
N 37° 41.829 E 015° 00.312
33S E 500458 N 4172214
Close to the Rifugio Sapienza on the southern slope of Mt. Etna you can find several side craters (Monti Silvestri, Monti Calcarazzi and Montagnola), which are almost recent and well visible manifestation of Etnean turbulent volcanic activity...
Waymark Code: WM7BHN
Location: Sicilia, Italy
Date Posted: 10/01/2009
Views: 28
In the middle southern flank of Mt. Etna you can see some of classic examples of Etnean fissure eruptions with eruptive cones aligned on it, due to frequent eruptions on what is considered the "south rift zone" of the volcano.
Montagnola, the peak forming the skyline, is a large pyroclastic cone formed during the summer 1763 eruption; its lava flows formed a peculiar ridge. Three years later, another eruption built the Monti Calcarazzi crater. In 1892, a six-months long eruption led to the formation of yet another crater row, the Monti Silvestri, the largest of them, from which the photos were taken.
Nonwithstanding the frequent eruptions in this area, the largest complex of tourist facilities (including the Rifugio Sapienza and the base station of the cable car) has developed immediately to the west of the Monti Silvestri. The given coordinates will bring you to the southern rim (1950 m) of the Monti Silvestri crater, which offers good vista over all three above mentioned cones and also summit part of Mt. Etna.
Mount Etna also called Mongibello Volcano is located on the East coast of Sicily, just North of Catania. Etna is an active volcano, sending frequent streams of lava and pyroclastic flows down its slopes. Mount Etna is 3 326 m high, making it the tallest European active volcano, with a circumference of 140 km.