As you step onto the soft carpet of needles, the forest unveils its “monuments”—centuries-old trees that have survived the volcano's fury. You will encounter:
The Monumental Beech trees: Towering specimens like the legendary Trofa du Camperi and Fau di Sanareddu, the oldest beech trees on Etna, standing 18 meters tall and nearly 500 years old.
The Lava Rivers: The path weaves through time, crossing the jagged, black scars of past lava flows—from the historic 1928 eruption to more recent events. Walking over these “petrified rivers” offers a stark contrast between the vibrant life of the woods and the raw, silent power of the volcano.
A Taste of the Volcano at Rifugio Brunek
After your immersion in the wild, the Rifugio Brunek appears like a welcoming sanctuary at 1,400 meters.