Eruptive vents of 1928 – Serra Buffa Refuge loop from Milo

Bike touring routes & trails

Eruptive vents of 1928 – Serra Buffa Refuge loop from Milo

Hard

5.0

(2)

104

riders

Eruptive vents of 1928 – Serra Buffa Refuge loop from Milo

03:29

36.2km

1,140m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 26, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Parco dell'Etna

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

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8.23 km

Eruptive vents of 1928

Highlight • Volcano

An impressive place. This is the site of the volcanic eruption that destroyed Mascali in 1928.

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10.5 km

Serra Buffa Refuge

Highlight • Mountain Hut

This spartan but welcoming refuge offers an excellent opportunity to take a break inside the Bosco della Cerrita.

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10.9 km

Double Pine Tree in Parco dell'Etna

Highlight • Natural Monument

13.7 km

To get to the refuge we recommend taking the detour from Mareneve via a 1.84 km path immersed in the pine forest.
However, the route from Case Paternò Castello is absolutely not recommended due to gradients of around 20% and very sandy terrain.
There is a well but not a fountain.
Poor connection.

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15.5 km

Case Paternò Castello Refuge

Highlight • Mountain Hut

The Paternò houses are 1.25 km from Mareneve. On the site there is a barbecue area and a fountain at the back of the refuge but the water in the well is very putrid. The connection is decent.

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16.4 km

Pineta della Cubania

Forest

17.7 km

Pagghiaru

Highlight • Other

The pagghiaru has been recently renovated and is in perfect condition.
Strengths:
- clean!!
- really well maintained
- woodshed well stocked so far

Weaknesses:
- As the crow flies it is relatively short distance from the Mareneve. You often hear the motorcycles passing
- It is not panoramic and you don't see a large portion of the sky, so at night you will see few stars
- It is located on the trail (I prefer more isolated bivouacs)
- the water pump does not work... at least currently (May 2026). So no water!
- Very poor connection

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23.0 km

Grotta dei Ladroni

Highlight • Cave

It is one of the most famous caves on Etna, also used in the past as a snow cave. The steps carved into the rock at the two entrances are characteristic

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28.3 km

Descent on Strada Mareneve, Parco dell'Etna

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Leaving Piano Provenzana behind, the descent begins towards Milo-Zafferana Etnea. Here the road crosses the entire east side of Etna and the view opens towards the Ionian Sea. The road is well paved and can be busy. I recommend proceeding with caution given the presence of numerous bends with sometimes high negative slopes and the presence, almost always, of ash on the asphalt.

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