A paved road to Sapienza Refuge in Mount Etna

Rifugio Sapienza is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.935m (6,348ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Catania in the Italian region Sicily, on the southern slope of Mount Etna.

Rifugio Sapienza

The road to the hut is called Strada Provinciale 92. It’s paved with many steep sections, up to 13.0%. The hut is the starting point for numerous trips to the various craters on Europe's largest volcano. You can take the cable car from here to the station on Mount Etna. The climb has been featured in the Giro d’Italia race. The road is good, with several panoramic views along the top part. The road can be closed anytime because the volcanic activity in this area is unpredictable.

There are several routes to reach the summit. Starting from Pedara, the ascent is 18 km long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 1.286 meters. The average percentage is 7.1 %. Starting from Nicolosi, the ascent is 19 km long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 1.223 meters. The average percentage is 6.4 %. Starting from Piano San Leo, the ascent is 13 km long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 883 meters. The average percentage is 6.8 %. And starting from Zafferana, the ascent is 18 km long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 1.305 meters. The average percentage is 7.2 %.