Schiena dell’Asino

From the Malerba Stone (q. 2,040) located along the Serra del Salifizio, immediately close to the depression of the Valle del Bove, the trail catches a ridge much appropriately called “Schiena dell’Asino” (“donkey back”) by the old mountaineers, for its perfect resemblance with the back of the animal.

The ridge ends on top of the Montagnola (2,637 m), a huge crater dating back to 1763, which can be reached by following an easily perceivable path and overcoming a difference in altitude of 637 m. The panorama opens out to the North-East on the slopes enclosing the Valle del Bove to the West, and to the South-West on the Southern slopes of the Etna massif. From here, the Gulf of Catania can be seen in the distance.