Grotta del Gelo

Within Mount Etna's northern slope, Grotta del Gelo extends for 120 meters with a large entrance measuring 10 by 5 meters at 2043 meters elevation.

The cave emerged during Mount Etna's eruption between 1614 and 1624, with its first documentation appearing in Sartorius von Walterhausen's publication from 1880.

Local shepherds traditionally used the cave as a water source for their flocks, marking its role in supporting agricultural practices in the region.

Access requires a 10-kilometer trek through varied terrain, including pine forests and lava flows, with an elevation gain of 500 meters from Piano Provenzana.

The cave contains 1,500 cubic meters of permanent ice formations, including stalactites and stalagmites, making it Europe's southernmost ice deposit location.

Location: Randazzo

Inception: 1614

Elevation above the sea: 2,043 m

GPS coordinates: 37.80439,14.98411

Latest update: November 27, 2025 20:54