Strada Statale 120 – Grotta delle Palombe

A hiker wishing to travel the “Sentiero Italia” from East to West through Mount Etna must walk this trail. After descending from Malvagna and passing through the tiny and orderly village of Verzella, we approach the volcanic massif by crossing the S.S. 120 in the first place and subsequently, after entering the perimeter of the Etna Park, the “Quota 1000” S.P. West of M. Dolce.

The route overlaps with a notable ancient mule track, and through it goes up to an altitude of 1,235 m, where it meets a forest road. Once entered the latter, hikers pass through a flat area, called Passo SilIetta, at an altitude of 1,370 m. Here are two groups of sheepfolds divided into numerous chambers separated by walls built with dry lava stone. Finally, the route heads south again a forest road passing through the State Forestry Property-owned Casermetta di Grotta delle Palombe, eventually to join the Pista Altomontana at an altitude of 1,620 m.