Etna north: Piano Provenzana

Piano Provenzana is a ski area on the north side of Etna, at about 1,800 m, and a starting point for hikes towards the summit. From Linguaglossa you reach it by the scenic Mareneve road, which runs through pine forest. An eruption began here in the night of 26–27 October 2002: lava from a fissure on the North-East Rift reached the plateau around noon on 27 October, burned a ski school and destroyed the facilities, and everyone had to leave at once. The Mareneve road was cracked by movement on the Pernicana Fault.

Today guided hikes start here, for example to the craters of 2002 and 1923. One operator quotes about 4 km, around 3 hours and a highest point of roughly 2,100 m, with a certified guide. Take warm clothing, as the weather can change at this altitude. Whether and how far the road can be driven depends on snow and volcanic activity.

It is roughly 18 km from Linguaglossa. The Mareneve road runs through the Ragabo forest, an old Laricio pine forest that is good for walks. After the 2002 eruption the resort was rebuilt. Four-wheel-drive excursions with volcano guides also set off from Piano Provenzana, reaching almost 3,000 m. A car is practically essential, as public transport rarely or never goes up (as of October 2026).