Cave of the Lord

Etna North West Territory: Maletto

Coordinates: 33S 498290E 4181297N (Utm Wgs84) | 37°46'44.5″N 14°58'50.1″E

ELEVATION: 2310 m

Development: 50 m in total.

Nearest known location: Bocche 1949

Exploration: Not easily accessible, can be visited with only lights and helmet.

Taken over by Dario and Paolo Teri (on 11.5.2021)

Notified to the relevant municipality on \\

The cave is located along an impressive lava flow channel in its most downstream part. The hypogeum is just under 50 meters long and is easily accessible. In the initial part there is a rather steep descent of 5 meters, then it proceeds horizontally. Some particular characteristics make this cavity very interesting. The morphology in the first section is bell-shaped and numerous lava pendants (improperly called remelting stalactites or dog's teeth) are truly unusual for their length estimated at 12/15 cm. Even in this cave, despite the almost summer visiting period, ice was found inside.

The name attributed is due to the Sicilian saying “Unni pessi i scappi u Signuri” to indicate a remote place, given that the cavity is located in a very large lava flow from 1975 that is very difficult to reach due to the particularly impervious terrain. Nearby, on this enormous lava field, there are several very interesting flow channels, where there are also cavities, but of modest size that it was preferred not to include in the census.