Italy's Volcanoes: The Cradle of Volcanology

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Monte S. Nicolò
The relatively small, prehistoric cone of Monte S. Nicolò is seen here on 4 March 2004 from a higher position about 0.7 km to the northwest, showing plainly the charming landscape around the cone. Fruit gardens, vineyards and weekend homes lie scattered around the densely vegetated cone, whose small and shallow summit crater is dominated by two large oak trees. A shallow depression can be noted on the center-right side of the cone, where there were possibly effusive vents during the eruption that formed Monte S. Nicolo, many thousands of years ago

Mamma Etna's countless children
Monte San Nicolò
SE flank, 15.083157° E, 37.638018° N
summit elevation: 681 m

 

The village of Monterosso on the lower southeast flank of Mount Etna is surrounded by four pyroclastic cones. One of these is Monte S. Nicolò, a prehistoric and densely vegetated cone with a relative height ranging from 60 to 140 m. A poorly defined summit crater less than 100 m in diameter forms a shallow depression at the summit, and a breach can be recognized on the western flank; possibly this corresponds with the site of effusive vents lower on the slope on this side. Fruit gardens and vineyards cover the southern flank of the cone up to the summit, while the western and northern sides are covered by a small forest of oak trees. The age of Monte S. Nicolò is not known, but it is certainly much older than its more conspicuous neighbors Monte Gorna, Monte Ilice, and Monterosso, who were all formed during the historical period.
I visited and climbed Monte S. Nicolò for the first time in early March 1997 and passed nearby on several other occasions. The photos on this page were taken during the first visit and in March 2004.

Monte S. Nicolò Monte S. Nicolò Monte S. Nicolò
Monte S. Nicolò seen from different directions and at different times. Left photograph, taken early March 1997, is a view from the summit of Monte Gorna (about 1.2 km to the northwest) and shows Monte Serra (3 km away) in the distance. Center image was taken from a point lying between Monte Gorna and Monte S. Nicolò, but slightly further west, so that distant Monte Serra is seen to the right of Monte S. Nicolò. This photo was taken 4 March 2004, seven years after the previous one. In the image at right Monte S. Nicolò is seen from the southernmost in a cluster of nameless cones north of Trecastagni, about 0.7 km to the WSW, and another cone is seen in the background at left: Monterosso, with the Ionian Sea in the distance. Photo taken 4 March 2004
Monte S. Nicolò Monte S. Nicolò Monte S. Nicolò
Further views of Monte S. Nicolò and its beautiful surroundings (if one choses the right foreground objects). Left image was taken from south and shows the larger cone of Monte Gorna in the background, with snow-covered main edifice of Etna in the distance, and an abandoned country villa at extreme left. Another villa, also abandoned, is seen in the foreground of the center image, Monte Gorna is in right background. A similar view but with different buildings in the foreground and much less pleasant weather conditions is seen in the right photograph, taken in early March 1997, seven years before the photos at left and center
Monte S. Nicolò Monte S. Nicolò Monte S. Nicolò
Left: Monte S. Nicolò seen from its western base on 4 March 2004, showing the forested side of the cone
Center: the view of Monte S. Nicolò from its eastern base shows abandoned terraces on the flank of the cone, here in a photograph taken in early March 1997
Right: the summit area of Monte S. Nicolò is marked by a very flat crater that is occupied by fruit gardens, and two large oak trees stand on its western rim. The large historical cones of Monte Gorna (left) and Monte Ilice (right) are seen in the background of this image taken in early March 1997

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