Zafferana Etnea: Mount Etna Landscapes, Trails and Sicilian Culture
Accommodation in Zafferana Etnea
Mount Etna landscape between forest, lava and the summit zone
Zafferana Etnea is one of the municipalities of Parco dell’Etna. The municipality of Zafferana Etnea extends from approximately 400 m above sea level to the volcano’s 3,340 m-high summit. Along this elevation range, it crosses Mediterranean maquis, lava flows, dense forests and the desert-like summit zone. Zafferana Etnea is also considered a starting point for excursions to explore the landscapes and nature trails of its own territory.
File:95019 Zafferana Etnea, Province of Catania, Italy - panoramio.jpg
Photo: trolvag via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
From the viewpoints in Zafferana Etnea, the view extends from Calabria to Augusta. From there, it is possible to follow ancient craters and lava flows that have spread downhill. Piazza Umberto I has a viewpoint overlooking the sea and the urban gardens below. Monte Serra Pizzuta Galvarina is also part of the landscape: the secondary crater is partially covered by a pine forest.
The Ilice di Carrinu is located on the eastern slopes of Mount Etna and is also known as Ilice di Pantano and Ilici du Pantanu. The holm oak is over 700 years old and lies in Zone B of the park. The Ilice di Carrinu has been included in Italy’s heritage of green monuments and is on the list of the 150 trees of exceptional historical and monumental value.
Hiking trails and paths on the volcano
Piano del Vescovo is crossed by the SP 92, which runs from Zafferana Etnea to the area of Rifugio Sapienza. Piano del Vescovo is also the starting point for trail 727 to Serra del Salifizio. After passing a lava cliff used as a climbing wall, trail 727 leads to a ridge of Serra del Salifizio. From this ridge, there is a view of the Valle del Bove.
Another hiking trail reaches Serra del Salifizio, from where there is a view of the Valle del Bove. A hiking trail in Zafferana Etnea also offers views of Mount Etna, the Valle del Bove and the Ionian coast. The Piano dell’Acqua–Monte Calanna route branches off from trail 704 at 747 m above sea level. The turnoff is less than 800 m from the endpoint of trail 704 near the Ballo hamlet in the municipality of Zafferana Etnea.
A hiking trail starting from Contrada Dagalone in Zafferana Etnea mostly follows the route of an old, partly unpaved mule track. The trail leads to the Ilice di Carrinu, a centuries-old monumental holm oak. From the provincial road SP 92 between Zafferana Etnea and the area of Rifugio Sapienza, a hiking trail can be reached along which the small Rifugio di Casa del Vescovo and several caves are located. These caves were formerly used to obtain and store snow.
Church, museum and local history
The Chiesa Madre Santa Maria della Provvidenza has a façade and two flanking twin towers made of white stone. A black grand staircase made of lava stone complements the exterior. The Chiesa Madre Santa Maria della Provvidenza in Zafferana Etnea is considered a symbol of Sicilian Baroque.
Inside the Chiesa Madre Santa Maria della Provvidenza is an altar dedicated to Saint Joseph with a large altarpiece. Giuseppe Sciuti painted this altarpiece in 1854. The Biblioteca Comunale “F. Guglielmino” is located in the Palazzina Liberty of the Parco Comunale in Zafferana Etnea.
The Casa Museo dell’Apicoltore offers educational displays on the millennia-old relationship between bees and humans as well as traditional honey-production techniques. For a short guided tour of the town centre and places of historical and natural significance, the Pro Loco of Zafferana Etnea offers appointments for schools, groups, families and individuals. Booking is required at least 24 hours before arrival for this guided tour.
Events and products of Mount Etna
Etna in Scena is a summer cultural event series in Zafferana Etnea. For more than 20 years, the series has presented music, theatre, dance and comedy on the slopes of the volcano.
The Ottobrata Zafferanese was founded in 1978 to promote high-quality products from Mount Etna and the region. These include grapes, apples, honey, chestnuts and mushrooms. In the 1990s, the Ottobrata Zafferanese was expanded to include a presentation of traditional crafts from the Mount Etna region. These include the working of lava stone and wrought iron, basket weaving and the decoration of Sicilian carts.
Zafferana Etnea is part of the “Città del miele” network. The municipality is locally credited with approximately 15% of Italian honey production. A local speciality is the “Sciatore”: a milk biscuit covered in dark chocolate, invented in Zafferana Etnea in the 1940s to provide energy for skiers on Mount Etna.
Further destinations: Ragalna, Linguaglossa, Nicolosi
To the overarching travel overview: Catania.
