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Rifugio Sapienza

Rifugio Sapienza: Our most recommended tours and activities

From Catania: Full-Day Mount Etna and Taormina Tour

1. From Catania: Full-Day Mount Etna and Taormina Tour

Jump in the shuttle bus and head out into the lunar landscape of one of the world’s most active volcanoes, Mount Etna. At over 6,500 ft (1,981 meters), this majestic mountain dominates the coastline, concealing plenty of treasures. No trip to Sicily would be complete without a visit to the tempestuous territories of Mount Etna. Starting at Rifugio Sapienza, follow the line of the old Silvestri craters down into a cave of lava formed during the eruption of 1792. From here, head to a local organic farm and sample honey and wine, cultivated in the fertile soils of the region. En route to Taormina, look at the spectacular wildlife reserve of Isola Bella from above. Upon arrival, spend lunch at your leisure, then re-group to check out the highlights of this unique historical town. From the old-world charm of the ancient Greek theater to the breathtaking views of Giardini Naxos Bay and the striking architecture of Palazzo Corvaja, this town steals the heart of every visitor.

From Catania: Etna Nature and Flavors Half-Day Tour

2. From Catania: Etna Nature and Flavors Half-Day Tour

Explore Etna Park on a day tour that takes you up to the Sapienza Refuge and admire views from 1,986 meters. Learn how craters and lava tunnels are formed from your guide and try local products. At the Sapienza Refuge, see both the newest eruptions of the volcano and the old Silvestri craters, dating from the 1892 eruption. Enter a lava cave, with a helmet and headlamp, to learn how lava flows are formed. Later, visit a well-known farm and taste local products, such as honey, olive oil, and wine.

From Taormina: Mount Etna and Alcantara River Tour

3. From Taormina: Mount Etna and Alcantara River Tour

Depart from Taormina and head to the Rifugio Sapienza on Mount Etna. Learn the history of the volcano and visit the sites of its last eruptions. Choose to trek along the nature paths of the Parco dell’Etna or take the cable car to an altitude of 2,504 meters and continue by 4WD minibus to the Torre del Filosofo. Get stunning views of the scenery stretching down to the sea and admire the craters and old lava flows that characterize the landscape. Explore a lava cave with all the proper equipment. Continue down the mountain and stop at the organic farm for a delicious sampling of local products, including honey, wine, and oil. Discover the different corners of the Alcantara River. Walk down small paths, past cultivated fields, and see the natural pools and waterfalls and continue to get up close to different basalt and unexpected lava formations.

Mount Etna: Excursion to the Base of the Summit Craters

4. Mount Etna: Excursion to the Base of the Summit Craters

Your expert guide will pick you up at your accommodation in Catania, or another central location, around 8:30 AM. The guide will drive you to Rifugio Sapienza where you will the cable car to 2500 meters. Here, a 4x4 vehicle will take you to the maximum reachable height of 1.7 miles (2750 meters). With the guide, enjoy the magnificence of the volcano in front of the impressive Central and South-Eastern Craters, which are surrounded by ancient and recent lava flows. Return to Rifugio Sapienza to head in the direction of Monte Nero Degli Zappini. Take a nature walk with your guide to discover the geological and botanical aspects of Etna. Stop for a delicious lunch of authentic Sicilian baked goods accompanied by water and Mount Etna wine. In the afternoon, you will visit a volcanic cave and use helmets and torches to safely explore the depth of the volcano. Your expert guide will teach you some basic information about speleology and the fascinating phenomenon related to eruptions.

Mount Etna: Guided Mountain Bike Tour

5. Mount Etna: Guided Mountain Bike Tour

Once you arrive, with the help of our guide, you can choose the route that best suits you! From downhill, to the descents of lava sand, single trail in the woods, free-ride and enduro trails, up to walks of varying difficulty. Starting from Rifugio Sapienza, in the south side of Etna, you will begin your journey through lonely and scenic trails, landscapes of pure Sicilian nature, caves of lava flow, passing through forests of oak, pine, birch and beech trees.  You will go through the most secret and suggestive places of our island, and you will be enchanted by the power and beauty of this volcano. All this, concentrated in a unique and unmissable experience by mountain bike, which will allow you to spend three unforgettable hours in contact with nature, discovering the highest active volcano in Europe.

Catania: Mount Etna Trekking and Summit Craters

6. Catania: Mount Etna Trekking and Summit Craters

From the meeting point at Funivia dell'Etna, you’ll start the day by catching the cable car and bus to the trailhead. After trekking for about 2 kilometers, you will reach the western portion of the summit crater terrace where it is possible to admire the stateliness of the Central Crater. The trekking will continue along the crater wall before starting downhill on the steep path constituted by ash and volcanic scoria along the southern portion of the summit. Complete the extraordinary journey back to Rifugio Sapienza by cable car.

Nicolosi: Etna Guided Sky Trek with Cable Car Ride

7. Nicolosi: Etna Guided Sky Trek with Cable Car Ride

You’ll get to almost 3,000 metres above sea level, and marvel at rock formations which date back thousands of years. You’ll meet your expert volcanologist guide on the slopes of Etna at the Rifugio Sapienza, 1900 metres above sea level. One the introductions are out the way, you’ll take the cable car to an altitude of 2,500 metres where the excitement (and the trekking) truly begins! 2001 saw one of the biggest eruptions this millennium on Etna, and you’ll be climbing towards the crater that was created by that. The lunar landscape that was left behind is sure to take your breath away, so maky sure you have your camera at the ready. Then, you’ll carry on to the viewpoint on the Valle del Bove, at a dizzying height of 2,750 metres above sea level! Valle del Bove is considered the best panoramic spot on the mountain, with the dazzling depression dating back 64,000 years. You’ll get a chane to take in your surroundings, snap a few pictures, and pick out Taormina and Syracuse on the coast. You’ll also see summit craters as they constantly emit gases and water vapour. The last stop is visiting a crater depression called the Cisternazza before you take the cable car back to La Sapienza.

Catania: Guided Tour of Etna with Farm Visit & Food Tasting

8. Catania: Guided Tour of Etna with Farm Visit & Food Tasting

Come with us to discover the highest volcano in Europe: Mount Etna! You will visit ancient craters, ending this experience with a tasting of typical products of the place, at an organic farm. After meeting with the guide, you will climb up to the Rifugio Sapienza, allowing yourself short stops from time to time, so you can fully enjoy the beauty of the Etnean landscape.  You will know the history of the volcano and its territory, thanks to our guide who will tell you about the ancient and recent lava flows that have involved the slopes of Etna and the Crateri Silvestri.   Once you reach Rifugio Sapienza, at an altitude of 1920 meters, you will continue on a hiking trail, together with our guide, where you will be overwhelmed by the beauty of a beautiful landscape.   Back to Rifugio Sapienza, with helmet and flashlight, you will continue with the observation of a cave of lava flow: a unique and distinctive conformation of volcanoes, and then conclude with a visit to an organic farm, where you can taste honeys, wines, oils and other local products.

From Catania: Etna, Taormina, Isola Bella Audio-Guided Tour

9. From Catania: Etna, Taormina, Isola Bella Audio-Guided Tour

Explore three beautiful places in Sicily on a full-day self-guided tour starting in the center of Catania. Travel to Mount Etna, known as the highest active volcano in Europe. Experience the natural beauty of Isola Bella and visit the medieval hill town of Taormina. Reach 2000 meters and walk on the old craters while admiring citrus groves, vineyards, and birch woods. Take the cable car, easily accessible from the stop point to get a unique perspective of the site (cable car tickets are not included). Move on to Isola Bella, a nature reserve with enchanting shades of color on the seabed that is a favorite destination for many travelers before heading to Taormina. From the Greek Theatre in Taormina, experience the spectacular view of the turquoise sea from the coast of Calabria, the city of Syracuse, and the steaming summit of Etna. Have free time to wander and explore Taormina before returning to Catania.

From Catania/Taormina: Mount Etna Cablecar & 4WD Tour

10. From Catania/Taormina: Mount Etna Cablecar & 4WD Tour

After being picked up from your accommodation in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, set off in the direction of Mount Etna. Embark on an adventurous drive up to the volcano, passing by the small towns of Pedara, Nicolosi, and Zafferana Etnea and cold lava fields. Reach the Rifugio Sapienza Etna starting point where the next portion of the tour begins. Your English-speaking guide will explain to you the most interesting phenomena of the active volcano and about the plants and animals of the region. Climb into a cable car and soar up to an altitude of 2500 m. Next, continue upwards to 2900m in a special jeep. Explore the area at the foot of the main crater known as Torre del Filosofo. Marvel at the stunning views over the Mediterranean Sea if it is a clear day. During a 40-minute tour of the area, your expert alpine/volcanology guide will explain all about the geology of the area and how the hot smoking craters were formed after the 2002-2003 eruption.  After this, return to the Rifugio Sapienza to enjoy a traditional Sicilian lunch at a chalet. Once you've filled your belly, get kitted up with helmets and flashlights and begin on an unforgettable adventure inside a real lava cave. At the end of the tour,  you will be driven back to your accommodation in Catania or Taormina.

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What people are saying about Rifugio Sapienza

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 531 reviews

Ended up getting a private tour (since it’s the past the holidays and low season). Our guide, Andrea, was phenomenal… so knowledgeable about Etna, Catania, Sicily (in general), and volcanos! He answered all of our various questions and spoke English really well. We decided to do the cable car option ($30 each) and then trek ourselves to the crater created during the 2001 eruption (instead of the Jeeps which would have been another $38 each)… very happy with that decision since clouds rolled in blocking the Jeep’s panorama viewpoint. I am young but not the most fit, however, Andrea’s pace allowed me to ascend slowly without feeling rushed. It wasn’t the easiest but absolutely worth the views once inside the crater. The local food/wine tasting and lava tube (cave) parts of the tour are like the cherry on top of an already great day. This tour ranks as one of my favorite excursions during my month-long travel. Worth every penny and would do it again in a heartbeat.

Even despite the closure of the roads leading to Mount Etna due to bad weather conditions, our optimistic, joyful and patient guide was able to provide a wonderful trip to our group. We were able to visit most of attractions of the program (even though with small alterations) while listening to the numerous interesting stories about Mount Etna and its relations to the city, myths and history of Catania. The tasting of local products like honey, olive oil and pistacchio cream took place in a small antique museum of the tradition of beekeeping, which was the perfect location to round up the trip.

Pick up on time and nice journey to the larva cave for a quick stop and walk in the cave. Carried on to Etna visitor centre but as the weather was really bad and the list was shut due to winds had a short hike around and lots of info from the guide. Left and stopped off at a winery for tasting. Wine, flavoured olive oils znd antipasti. All very nice and no hard sell on any products. Returned about an hour early due to weather but only nature's fault.

Enzo was an incredible guide. His vast amount of knowledge was impressive and you can tell he truly has a passion for what he does. The sights to Mt. Etna, the cave, the village with honey, and Taormina included so many experiences that we wouldn’t have navigated on our own. We highly recommended this tour because we were able to see the best of these areas in only a day with a guide who really knows his stuff.

Our guide Enzo was brilliant he was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable.