발레 델 보베‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪12‬개의 천연기념물

A beautiful, short hike to the summit of Monte Zoccolaro with panoramic views of Mount Etna and the Valle del Bove caldera (lava flow from 1991-1993). Don't be fooled; there are actually two paths leading to the summit. The western one (= former road) runs through nowhere. With a lot of intuition and perseverance, you can continue from here, but there is no defined path to the summit—until you reach the marked path from the hut! The actual path to the summit is marked (trail 704), but it is a real, partly overgrown, sunken path that occasionally winds very close to the edge. Caution: after heavy rains, part of the edge could slide away. The cross on the summit of Monte Zoccolaro dates back to 1948, when priest Salvatore Russo, along with some parishioners, carried it on his shoulders to the summit of the mountain. Here, it was inscribed with the words: Prayer, Deed, Sacrifice and firmly anchored. Every year on September 14th – the day the cross was erected – a mass is celebrated at the foot of the monument at 9 a.m. In good weather, the view over the Val Bove is breathtaking, and the summit is one of the privileged vantage points for witnessing Etna's eruptions at night. It's worth it, but it's more than just a short walk!

Beautiful view of the 5km wide Valle del Bove. In contrast to the south side, the paths are not as well developed and there are fewer people on the trail. Partly steep and slippery. No shade. Great place!

Fabulous view of the Valle del Bove. Here you can choose whether you want to continue climbing or descend towards the hut.

Better than up at the summit in the Turi streams!

At the first light of the morning, as the sun kisses the peaks of Etna, I lace up my hiking boots and set off for the Valle del Bove. The air is fresh, a harbinger of the adventure that lies ahead. The path to the valley is not an easy walk; it is a journey through the untouched nature at the foot of the volcano. I remember the advice to always keep an eye on the weather – it can change quickly up here. But today the sky is clear and the view of the valley, filled with cooled lava, is incomparable. I feel small next to the evidence of ancient eruptions, a wanderer in the face of eternity. The rumbling of the volcano accompanies me as I move deeper into the valley. Here, in this world of stone and ash, the true wildness of nature is revealed. I follow the path, surrounded by the majestic silence, and take in the landscape. Every step reveals new wonders, every panorama tells its own story. When I arrive at the southern edge of the Obertal, I pause. The view is stunning – a raw beauty that words can hardly contain. I breathe in deeply, the fresh air filling my lungs, and in that moment I feel deeply alive.

The Valle del Bove can be reached in an hour on foot from Rifugio Sapienza. The huge valley is almost completely filled by a cooled lava flow, on which no vegetation was visible in 2023. Only a few higher spots protrude from the lava field where the lava flowed around it.

The best thing to do on Etna is a guided tour!

Serra delle Concazze, located in the municipality of Sant'Alfio, is a section of the C.A.I. path. no. 723, offering breathtaking views of Etna and a unique endemic flora. Starting from the Citelli Refuge, it passes through "Aetnensis" birch woods and volcanic outcrops, culminating in the 1928 eruptive vents near Monte Frumento delle Concazze.