Etna Lava Tubes Project was born with the aim of spreading knowledge of little-known or unpublished Etna caves. Natural phenomena among the most fascinating of our volcano. Many texts report that on Etna there are at least 260 known caves. In reality the formation of lava tubes is very common and the number of caves is destined to increase considerably. Below we report a census of little-known caves - for which information is not available elsewhere - or unpublished discovered by our team in particular by the founders of EtnaExcursion.it Dario & Paolo Teri. During an exploratory campaign that began "for fun" in 2018 and still (April 2023), about 70 have been found, not considered in the general count indicated above. Here we report only those considered most interesting from a naturalistic point of view. For the caves already surveyed we recommend a visit to EtnaNatura.it and Mungibeddu.it
Exploration: Easily accessible and visitable with just lights and helmet.
Taken over by Dario and Paolo Teri (on 23.3.2021)
Notified to the relevant municipality on \\
This cave is located on the lavas of 1792/3, the same flows that gave rise to some of the most beautiful and well-known caves on Etna, including the Grotta dei Tre livello and the Grotta Ktm. The cavity has multiple entrances, the main one has a young chestnut tree that partially blocks the access constituted by a collapse of the vault. However, it is easily accessible without the need for speleological material. The volcanic hypogeum is very particular. In fact, there is a multitude of branches and tunnels that make the morphology very dynamic in the eyes of the observer, hence the attribution of the name considered more appropriate. However, there are 2 main branches, the result of the bifurcation of the lava flow. One is wider and easier, the other is narrower but still passable. After about a hundred meters the cave branches again, one of the two branches gradually becomes blocked, while a second to the right narrows into a channel from whose vault an access opens. Here a small mountain ash tree grew. In the cave there are all the characteristic elements of Etna cavities due to the passage of lava: pendants and rolls, shelves etc. At the time of the survey there were no typical little men or other signs of anthropic passage, leading to the hypothesis that it could be an unpublished or very little known cave.
In the immediate vicinity there are 2 other caves discovered by the same “explorers”: the Spiderman cave and the Blister cave.
Dario Teri 23 March 2021 Unseen & Little-Known Etna Caves No Responses
Do you want to visit the caves of Etna?
We organize cave excursions with expert guides. You could also request a guided tour with those who discovered it! See
Speleological tour in volcanic caves.
Search your tour
How are volcanic caves formed?
Lava tubes are very common on Etna. They form during an eruption ...
Go to the article.
16th August 2023 – On August 14th there was a paroxysm (a “lightning” eruption) from the summit craters which has already ended. Everything falls within the normal Etna phenomena. There is no danger for the population and visitors. The excursions are taking place regularly. GO TO NEWS