Monte Lauro

Monte Lauro is a mountain peak in the Province of Syracuse that rises to 987 meters and represents the highest point of the Hyblaean Mountains in southeastern Sicily. The slope is crossed by several hiking routes that pass through Mediterranean vegetation and reveal views of the surrounding landscape.

The mountain formed as a submarine volcano during the Miocene period, roughly 23 million years ago. This ancient geological event shaped the structure of southeastern Sicily that visitors see today.

The mountain holds a place in local storytelling as a pastoral landscape where ancient shepherds once tended their flocks in the highlands. These narratives about mountain life remain woven into how people today understand and speak about this place.

The mountain is accessed from the town of Buccheri, where several marked trails lead toward the summit. The routes provide chances to observe the local plant life and rock formations up close during the ascent.

A weather station of global scientific importance operates on the northern slope, collecting meteorological data. Winter conditions here become severe, with temperatures dropping below freezing and significant snow accumulation on the exposed ridge.

Location: Province of Syracuse

Elevation above the sea: 987 m

GPS coordinates: 37.11700,14.81959

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:23