Rifugio Sapienza Parking – Sapienza Hut loop from Zafferana Etnea

Rifugio Sapienza Parking – Sapienza Hut loop from Zafferana Etnea

Hard

riders

Rifugio Sapienza Parking – Sapienza Hut loop from Zafferana Etnea

03:30

40.2km

1,520m

Gravel riding

Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: October 16, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Parco dell'Etna

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

4.73 km

Fossazza

Forest

5.11 km

Descent Through the Lava Field at Silvestri Craters

Highlight (Segment) • Volcano

Since the road surface is sometimes very bumpy, if possible choose this route for the driveway, the road is much better in the direction of Nicolosi (09/2017)

Translated by Google •

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16.5 km

View of Mount Etna (east side)

Highlight • Viewpoint

Great view, worth it in any weather

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16.9 km

Sapienza Hut

Highlight • Mountain Hut

The Sapienza refuge is the starting point for climbing the crater of Etna, it is also a very famous place for road cycling, as it hosted the arrival of some stages of the Giro d'Italia.

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19.7 km

View of Catania from Parco dell'Etna

Highlight • Viewpoint

Great view of the sea

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20.1 km

View of Mount Etna's southern slopes

Highlight • Viewpoint

30.9 km

View of Acireale

Highlight • Viewpoint

Simply a great route that is always fun

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32.4 km

Provincial Road SP 92 of Mount Etna

Highlight • Cycleway

Among the slopes and chestnut groves of Etna. A visit to the volcano by bike is a must for a passionate biker. It took me decades to decide, partly out …

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40.2 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

35.0 km

5.08 km

150 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

33.7 km

5.08 km

1.32 km

150 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Tuesday 20 October

23°C

14°C

37 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 7.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

December 14, 2023,Up to Rifugio Sapienza, then Plan B because it was very windy and the cable car was closed

I had intended to ride up to Rifugio Sapienza (1920m), take the cable car up to the upper station (2500m) and then ride down the 12% gradient volcanic gravel track. Unfortunately, the cable car was not operating and the very high winds meant I wasn't keen on attempting the climb (it's usually done on eMTBs) so I used the time …