Updated October 2026
If you only have a couple of hours on Etna, start here. The Silvestri craters are a group of extinct side craters at around 1,900–2,000 metres, right next to the road and the Rifugio Sapienza area on the volcano’s southern slope. You can walk around their rims for free in under an hour.
What are the Silvestri craters?
They were formed during the eruption of 1892 and are named after the volcanologist Orazio Silvestri, who studied Etna in the 19th century. Today they are perfect examples of cinder cones: you can walk up the rim, look down into the crater and see the lava flows that spread from them across the slope.
How to visit
- Drive or take the AST bus from Catania to Rifugio Sapienza.
- The lower Silvestri crater is just across the road from the car park; the upper one is a short climb behind it.
- Allow 30–60 minutes and wear closed shoes — the cinder is loose.
- Entry is free; parking is paid.
Around Rifugio Sapienza
The area has restaurants, cafés and shops selling Etna honey, pistachio cream and lava-stone souvenirs. It is also the lower station of the Etna cable car and the meeting point for most summit hikes.
With a guide or on your own?
The Silvestri craters are easy to visit alone. A guided tour adds the stories behind the landscape, a visit to a lava cave you would not find yourself, and usually a tasting — most morning and sunset tours include the Silvestri craters on their route. Want to go higher? Read can you visit Mount Etna.
