The irregular, low and broad cone of Monte S. Nicola seen from SSE on 13 March 2004. The highest part of its crater rim forms the rounded hill at right, which rises up to 80 m above the south base of the cone. Note low crater rim on south (center left) side of the cone. In the foreground lies the crater of a small nameless cone that has been largely buried by the products of more recent eruptions

Mamma Etna's countless children
Monte San Nicola (or San Nicolò)
S flank, 15.022712° E, 37.634987° N
Summit elevation: 943 m

Among the numerous pyroclastic cones that lie around the town of Nicolosi on the south flank of Mount Etna, Monte S. Nicola (also known as Monte S. Nicolò) is one of the less conspicuous. It is a broad, low cone truncated by a large summit crater with a diameter of 250-280 m. Its relative height above the surrounding landscape ranges from 30 m on the north side to more than 80 m on the south side. The crater rim is highest on the east side, and lowest on the northwest and south sides. The flat crater floor is used by local young people as a racing ground.
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 Serra Pizzuta toward Monte S. Nicola, 0.6 km to the southeast. This view clearly shows the broad, flat shape of the cone, which is nearly 100 m lower than the point from which this photo was taken Center: crater floor of Monte S. Nicola seen from its southern portion, with Monte Serra Pizzuta and the main edifice of Etna in the background. Traces of motorbikes abound on the crater floor, which is used as a racing ground by local youngsters Right: another view of the crater floor of Monte S. Nicola, this time looking northeast. High eastern rim of the crater lies at extreme right

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