Ilice Di Carrinu, Historic holm oak in Zafferana Etnea, Italy.
Ilice di Carrinu is a holm oak growing on the eastern slopes of Mount Etna, within the boundaries of the Etna National Park near Zafferana Etnea. The tree has a notably wide trunk and a broad, spreading crown that gives it a very recognizable silhouette.
The tree is around 700 years old and is considered the last survivor of a holm oak forest that once covered the eastern slopes of the volcano. Over the centuries, that forest was almost entirely cleared for farming and by lava flows.
The name comes from Carlo, a former landowner whose local nickname Carrinu became permanently linked to this oak. Visitors today come simply to stand beneath its wide canopy and take in its scale.
The tree sits at around 940 meters (3,100 ft) elevation inside Etna Park and is reached by marked walking trails. Starting from the village of Milo, near Zafferana Etnea, is generally the most straightforward option.
The branches of this oak reach farther horizontally than those of any other documented specimen of its kind in Italy. This makes it a reference point for researchers who study monumental trees across the country.
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