What is named Monte Spagnolo actually consists of two large cones, the more westerly of which (at left) is Monte Spagnolo proper, while the slightly smaller cone immediately to the east (right) has no official name. These remarkable twin cones rise on the side of Etna facing the town of Randazzo, and besides Monte Maletto are the only sizeable flank cones on the northwestern side of the volcano. This view, taken in mid-August 2001, is from the southwest; the poorly vegetated lava flow in the foreground was erupted probably in early Medieval time, around A.D. 950

Mamma Etna's countless children
Monte Spagnolo
NNW flank, 14.953317° E, 37.826066° N
Summit elevation: 1536 m (western cone); 1519 m (eastern cone)

When looking toward Mount Etna from the area of Randazzo, at the NNW base of the volcano, two prominent cones can be seen lying about half way up the slope. Maps of the volcano show only one name, Monte Spagnolo, for the more westerly and larger of two cones; the slighly smaller eastern cone is unnamed. The origin of the name is not known to me but almost certainly has something to do with the temporary Spanish control on Sicily. Each of the Monte Spagnolo twin cones rises nearly 100 m above its respective base, and both have well-preserved summit craters, although it is not known when they were formed, and if they are the product of one or more eruptions. What appears likely is that at least one eruption has occurred in the area after the formation of the two cones, with lava outflow occurring from a vent lying in the saddle between the cone; poorly vegetated lava flows also issued from vents high on the northeastern and northwestern flanks of the larger of the two cones.
Much more recently, in March 1981, an extensive system of eruptive fissures opened at a distance of only 1 km from the eastern of the Monte Spagnolo cones, and the lowest vents on that fissure lay about 1.2 km NNE, at 1150 m elevation. The 1981 eruption was probably the only eruption in this area during the past millennium.
The two Monte Spagnolo cones were among the first of Etna's flank cones that I climbed, as early as February 1998. The climb is rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the NNE flank of Etna. I have returned to the area on several occasions; the photographs shown on this page were largely taken during visits in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002.

Left: similar view as in photograph at top of this page, but taken during different lighting conditions in May 2002 Center and right: climbing up from Randazzo toward Monte Spagnolo in late May 1999. The western cone, which appears highly symmetrical when seen from other directions (as in left photograph) is seen here to be more complex, with two prominent "shoulders" marked by effusive vents high on the flanks. The lava flows that issued from these vents still bear little vegetation and might have been erupted during an eruption that occurred in the same place after the formation of the Monte Spagnolo cones - or the western cone is much younger than its eastern neighbor and these lavas were formed during the same eruption that built the cone

Left and center: closing in on the western cone of Monte Spagnolo reveals more detailed views on one of the lava flows that spilled from an effusive vent high on the northwestern slope of the cone. These photographs were taken in late May 1999 Right: the Monte Spagnolo twin cones seen from the 1981 eruptive fissure, about 1.3 km to the east (lavas of the 1981 eruption are visible in the foreground). In this perspective, the larger western cone is nearly totally hidden behind its nearer eastern neighbor. A low mound, or shield, covered with yellowish vegetation, rises before the two cones, probably marking the site of lava effusion during an eruption whose relationship with the Monte Spagnolo cones is uncertain

Left: the eastern of the Monte Spagnolo cones seen from the site of the mountain hut of the same name (which was reopened to hikers in 2002 after many years after neglection) on 21 February 1998. In the foreground lies a lava field that bears relatively few and small trees but is probably prehistoric Center: beautiful panoramic view toward the summit area of Etna from the saddle between the two Monte Spagnolo cones on an extraordinarily clear day in February 1998. The snow-covered main edifice with the steaming summit craters is seen in left background, before that rises a huge lava shield formed during the voluminous 1614-1624 eruption, and in the right distance rises the large cone of Monte Maletto. The flat area in the foreground marks the site of lava effusion during an eruption that possibly post-dates the formation of the Monte Spagnolo cones. It may be contemporaneous with the emission of lava from two vents high on the flanks of the western Monte Spagnolo cone Right: a small lava tube opening near the top of a lava shield lying in the saddle between the two Monte Spagnolo cones, which possibly was the site of lava effusion during the post-cone building eruption. View is toward south; February 1998

Left: view from the eastern flank of the western Monte Spagnolo cone onto the lava shield sitting in the saddle between the two cones, and eastern cone in center left, late February 1998. Two lava shields on the 1614-1624 lava field are visible in the center and right background, and Etna's snow-covered main edifice with the ridge of the Northeast Rift extending to the left Center: the stunningly beautiful landscape of Etna's NNE flank, seen from the summit of the western Monte Spagnolo cone in late February 1998. The upper part of the Northeast Rift is seen at left, which is here largely composed of the upper portion of the enormous 1614-1624 lava field. The high cone at the summit of Etna is the Northeast Crater Right: view across the summit crater of the western Monte Spagnolo cone toward the main edifice of Etna in late February 1998

Left: panoramic view from the summit of the eastern Monte Spagnolo cone toward Etna's main edifice on 21 February 1998. The narrow ribbon of black lava at left is of the 1981 eruption Center: a small crater, lying largely in the shadow in the foreground, yawns on the eastern flank of the eastern Monte Spagnolo cone on the afternoon of 21 February 1998. View is to the south Right: another, still smaller crater, lying further down on the eastern flank of the eastern Monte Spagnolo cone

The Monte Spagnolo mountain hut lies in a charming place but for many years was not maintained and the small building gradually collapsed. This state is seen in the left photograph, taken in September 2000. In 2002, it was fully restored and rendered available for groups of hikers as seen in center photograph, taken mid-August 2002. The hut lies in a verdant area, where the ruins of small farm buildings testify to agricultural activity in the past (right photograph), with eastern Monte Spagnolo cone in the background; September 2000.

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