Two sister cones named after three brothers, the Monti Tre Frati are seen here from the southern base of Monte Ruvolo, about 1.3 km to the north. The smaller of the two cones, at left, is about half as tall as its much more voluminous neighbor. Both are densely vegetated and the age of their formation is unknown. The poorly vegetated lava field in the foreground is of the 1763 Monte Nuovo eruption. Photograph taken in May 1999

Mamma Etna's countless children
Monti Tre Frati
W flank, 14.89977° E, 37.73787° N
Summit elevation: 1386 m (summit of main cone)

The Monti Tre Frati consist of two modest-sized cones of which the more westerly is about twice as big as its eastern neighbor, lying about 0.3 km away. While the larger cone rises about 100 m above its western base, the smaller one is only about 50 m high. Both are of relatively youthful morphology (though clearly older than Monte Ruvolo, about 1.3 km to the NW). The western cone has a trench-shaped crater open to the SW, while a shallow crater occupies the summit of the eastern cone.
I have climbed neither of the two Monti Tre Frati, but passed close to them on one occasion in June 1999, when most of the photos displayed on this page were taken.

Left: a distant view of the Monti Tre Frati seen on a foggy day in late October 2003, looking approximately southeast. The smaller of the two cones can be barely recognized behind its larger neighbor to the left Center: partial view of the western and larger of the two Monti Tre Frati from its western base, May 1999 Right: in this view taken from the southeast, the Monti Tre Frati are seen before the much larger cone of Monte Ruvolo

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