Volcanological excursion of the wild and less touristy side of the Etna volcano

The site you reach with your own car is Piano Provenzana, the northern tourist station of Mount Etna. Less crowded and more authentic than the southern slope, it offers a natural setting where dense forest meets stark lava flows from recent eruptions—a striking contrast along the access road.

At 1,800 m a.s.l., you’ll find small souvenir shops, cafés, restrooms, and the departure area for authorized 4×4 vehicles. Parking is paid in blue-striped spaces. From here you may continue only with licensed guides on park- and municipality-approved vehicles. Piano Provenzana is also a winter ski station.

This area lies within the lava field of the October 27, 2002 eruption, which destroyed earlier tourist facilities—restaurants, hotels, ski lifts, and trails.

Gateway to Etna’s wild north side, it offers a more authentic, natural encounter with the volcano, with excursions rising from 1,800 m to about 2,860 m at the Etna Nord Volcanological Observatory.

The tour starts on the panoramic road climbing Etna’s north slope toward the upper volcano, accessible only by authorized 4×4 vehicles. Meet your guide at Piano Provenzana (1,800 m) for a short briefing before departure.

The drive crosses Etna’s woods and the wide lava fields of the 27 October 2002 eruption, where ruins of the old tourist station—including a semi-buried hotel roof—still emerge. Your guide explains the volcano’s history and answers questions en route.

Along the way you pass craters over 40 m deep, eruptive fractures, and vast summit-lava flows. Hardy pioneer plants colonize new rock, while INGV monitoring stations dot the stark, lunar terrain.

The route ends at Piano delle Concazze (2,860 m) beside the Etna Nord Volcanological Observatory, offering views that on clear days stretch from Catania to Syracuse, across the Nebrodi and Peloritani Mountains, the Madonie, the Aeolian Islands, and even Calabria, beneath the ever-steaming summit craters.

Discover the wild, less-touristic north flank of Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano, on a route once for researchers and now guided by certified volcanologists. From Piano Provenzana (1,800 m)—reachable by paved road—you board authorized 4×4 vehicles up the panoramic north road, crossing forest and the lava fields of the 27 Oct 2002 eruption, passing ruins of the old tourist station and a semi-buried hotel roof. Vehicles climb to about 3,000 m, the highest point allowed when the summit is closed, while active craters fume above. The hike is ~7 km, so good fitness is essential. Walk a stark plateau of fresh lava and ash, visiting craters from 2002, 1911, 1923, 1874, 1879, 1809, 1646, 1614, 1624, the dramatic north-flank fault, ancient lava tubes, and pioneer plants. Views stretch to the Aeolian Islands, Nebrodi, Peloritani, Madonie, Calabria, and Sicily’s east coast from Catania to Syracuse, before a sandy-channel and forest descent back to Piano Provenzana.

Piano Provenzana, on Mount Etna’s north side, is easy to reach by private or rental car along fully paved public roads.
Surrounded by pine forest and dramatic lava fields, the area was reshaped by the October 2002 eruption, which destroyed the original facilities and left a striking volcanic landscape of historic interest.
You’ll find souvenir shops, cafés and bars for breakfast, lunch or coffee, plus spots to refill water bottles. In winter it serves as a ski resort; in summer it becomes the starting point for guided hikes and excursions.
Blue-lined parking areas welcome cars and camper vans. If you’ve booked a tour, meet your volcanological guide directly on-site meeting points.
Less crowded than other Etna stations, Piano Provenzana offers a quiet, authentic way to experience Europe’s highest active volcano.