Monte Gervasi, probably one of the youngest cones on the south flank of Etna, is not very much of a landmark and one of the less inspiring objects to photograph in the area. In this photo, taken on 13 March 2004, Monte Gervasi seems to be little more than a low ridge with several knobs. However, it is more complex than this view might suggest. The highest part of the cone, at right, is the eastern rim of a large crater, whereas the lower and broader part of the cone in the center-left is actually a cone with a small crater on its own. Main edifice of Etna is in the background. The image was taken from the north flank of Mompeloso, about 1 km to the SSE of Monte Gervasi

Mamma Etna's countless children
Monte Gervasi
S flank, 15.029772° E, 37.642233° N
Summit elevation: 986 m

Monte Gervasi is a quite unconspicuous cone when compared to its much larger and beautifully shaped neighbors such as Monte Arso, Mompeloso, and Monte Serra Pizzuta. It is actually little more than the eastern rim of a large and relatively flat crater, and a smaller horseshoe-shaped cone lies immediately to the south, probably formed during the same eruption. To the north, east and west Monte Gervasi is surrounded by thick lobes of lava erupted during the 1634-1638 eruption, so that its relative height has probably been much reduced. It is densely forested, so that its morphology can be better evaluated from topographic maps and aerial views than on the ground. The original width of the main crater of Monte Gervasi is difficult to assess, because its western part has been invaded by a thick lobe of 1634-1638 lava, but probably was on the order of 350-400 m, unusually large for an Etnean flank crater. The smaller crater on the south side of the cone is 130 x 200 m in diameter and much better preserved. Besides all that, Monte Gervasi appears to be the youngest cone (except for the Monti Rossi, which formed in 1669) in the pyroclastic cone field north of Nicolosi - although it should be noted that nearby Monte Arso appears still more youthful and bears less vegetation, but no absolute or relative age determinations are available for this cone. A tephrochronological study carried out by Del Carlo and Branca (1998) has shown that the eruption of Monte Gervasi postdates that of Mompeloso, approximately 1.2 km to the SSE, which probably occurred in or around A.D. 252. Lava flows produced by this eruption advanced into the direction of Nicolosi, but much of them seems to have been covered with tephra from the nearby 1669 eruption, which ranks as the most explosive flank eruption of Etna of the past 400 years.
The main crater of Monte Gervasi is crisscrossed by dirt roads and footpaths and appears to be a popular cross-driving area, but offers little of geological interest. The smaller southern crater can be reached by a footpath; fruit gardens and vineyards lie on its southern side.
I first visited Monte Gervasi on 15 April 2000, without taking photographs, and returned on 13 March 2004, when all photographs on this page were taken.

Left: view from Monte Arso, about 0.7 km to the northeast, toward the low, broad cone of Monte Gervasi; the Monti Rossi (1669 eruption) and Monte Serra Pizzuta are seen in the background at left and right, respectively. Thick lobe of 1634-1638 lava has passed between Monte Arso and Monte Gervasi; prominent levees are visible on near and far side of this lava flow Center: Monte Gervasi seen from east side of 1634-1638 lava flow lobe. The rounded east rim of its main crater appears much more prominent in this perspective; lower southern cone of Monte Gervasi lies at left, and Monti Rossi are in the distance at extreme left Right: a still closer look toward Monte Gervasi from the east (central portion of the 1634-1638 lava flow lobe). Photos taken 13 March 2004

Left: barely recognizable due to dense vegetation, this is the main crater of Monte Gervasi, with its high east rim in the background. The low hill in the foreground consists of 1634-1638 lava which invaded the western portion of the Monte Gervasi crater. View is toward east Center: the smaller but more evident southern crater of Monte Gervasi, seen from its northeast rim, and Monte Serra Pizzuta in right background Right: southwest side of Monte Gervasi. The densely forested ridge in the middle ground is a thick lobe of lava of the 1634-1638 eruption. The regular, youthful cone of Mompeloso lies in the right background

Another view of Monte Gervasi showing the extremely unconspicuous profile of this cone. This photo shows a look from the summit area of Monte Serra Pizzuta, about 1 km to the west, taken on 13 March 2004. Monte Gervasi is barely recognizable in front of the much larger cone of Monte Arso, still a few hundred meters further to the east

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Copyright © Boris Behncke, "Italy's Volcanoes: The Cradle of Volcanology"