Grotta del Gelo
On Etna’s northern slope near Randazzo, Grotta del Gelo is a 120-metre lava tube formed during the volcano’s 1614–24 eruption, with a naturally ventilated interior that remains below freezing year-round. Ice stalactites, stalagmites and columns make it what is considered the southernmost glacier in Europe and the northern hemisphere, although its ice mass has been declining since the 1980s.
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On Etna’s northern slope near Randazzo, the Grotta del Gelo is a 120-metre lava tube formed during the volcano’s 1614–1624 eruption, one of its longest recorded events. The lava flow, around 50 metres thick, cooled slowly and left behind a hollow tunnel.
Within two decades, ice began to accumulate inside the cave during the Maunder Minimum, a period of reduced solar activity and colder temperatures. It has persisted ever since, giving the Grotta del Gelo its distinction as what is often considered the southernmost glacier in Europe and the Northern Hemisphere.
The passage is approximately seven metres wide, with ice stalactites, stalagmites and columns lining its walls and floor. Natural ventilation keeps the internal temperature below freezing throughout the year, sustaining the frozen formations in an otherwise volcanic landscape.
The cave’s ice mass has been declining since the 1980s, affected by climate change and by a 1981 eruption that altered the airflow within the tube. There is no admission charge, and booking is not required.
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Address
Grotta del Gelo, 95036 Randazzo, Metropolitan city of Catania, Italy
