Val Calanna

Val Calanna, the first step towards a single large volcanic structure

Val Calanna is located immediately upstream of the town of Zafferana Etnea, in the extreme south-eastern part of the Valle del Bove, and might well be one of the most fascinating historic places in modern Etnean history. The valley takes its name from Mount Calanna, a small round summit covered by recent lava. In reality, these are only the remains of one of the largest eruptive centres in the history of Mount Etna.
Val CalannaVal Calanna is bordered by the southern edge of the Valle del Bove , where there is a large and steep escarpment that cuts through the eruptive centres of Monte Fior di Cosimo and the Trifoglietto, formed around 100-80,000 years ago.
Exploring the chestnut trees that climb to the top of Monte Fior di Cosimo, then up to Monte Zoccolaro in the district of Cassone di Zafferana Etnea, is one of the most beautiful walks on Etna’s southern flank. Val Calanna holds a special place in the hearts of all regular visitors to the “Muntagna”, because before 1991 it was one of the most densely wooded places on the eastern flank, with small streams and waterfalls.
val calanna 1991 - 93Today it is harsh and barren, because it was filled by the 1991-93 lava flow , which just touched the town of Zafferana Etnea. After the one in 1983, it went down in history as humankind’s first rather unsuccessful attempt to divert a lava flow.

The eruption of 1928 that destroyed the town of Mascali

Acireale and its “timpe”

Acireale and reconstruction after the 1693 earthquake

The senses tell Torre del Filosofo

Empedocles and his passion for Etna

Etna, a natural laboratory where experiments can be carried out

The senses tell Val Calanna

The Jaci river

The Elliptical, the first great volcano of Etna

The fault system of the “Timpe” of Acireale

The world’s first (almost successful) attempt to stop a lava flow: the eruption of 1991-93

The living mountain

The senses tell Acireale

The 1669 eruption in Catania

The Etna viewpoint

The continuous evolution of the Etna summit craters

Malavoglia

The senses tell The summit craters

A fauna yet to be discovered

The earthquake that changed the geography of eastern Sicily in 1693

The “notches” of snow

Torre del Filosofo: at the base of the summit craters (2950 metres)

The senses tell The Red Mountains

Humankind and the volcano: how should we behave? Volcanic risk

Valle del Leone and the Elliptical

Lachea Island and the Aci Trezza Stacks

The Red Mountains and the destructive eruption of 1669

The senses tell The Etna Viewpoint

The first volcanic structures of Etna, between Aci Castello and Aci Trezza

Val Calanna, the first step towards a single large volcanic structure

The senses tell Acicastello and Acitrezza

The different names of the “Muntagna”

Summit crater activity between 2011 and 2019

Etna: a marvellous group of different types of flora

The senses tell Valle del Leone

An ever-evolving volcano

Why is Etna one of the most studied volcanoes in the world?

The 2001 eruption of Etna, when the Mountain seemed to be alive

The Grand Tour in Sicily