Italy Guide
Sicily
Climbing Mount Etna
There are two ways up the volcano from the Hotel/Rifugio Sapienza ( 
095.915.321; Price: €76-100, by foot or cable car. Now open again after being destroyed in the last eruption, cable cars run between 9am and sunset, weather permitting (€49.50 return). The price includes a minibus from the top cable car station to just below the main crater, though many people prefer to walk. Walking up from Rifugio Sapienza will take around four hours. However you go, at whatever time of year, take warm clothes, good shoes or boots and glasses to keep the flying grit out of your eyes. You can rent boots and jackets cheaply from the cable-car station. Food up the mountain is poor and overpriced.