18.7
PDI
8.6 mi
DISTANCE
3,015 ft
GAINED
6.6 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. Fornazzo - Citelli is 13.8 km (8.6 mi) long and gains 919 m (3,015 ft) at an average grade of 6.6%, climbing from 827 m (2,714 ft) in Fornazzo to 1,739 m (5,704 ft) at Rifugio Citelli.
This is one of the most evenly graded climbs on Etna. The first 4 km average about 7%, km 5 eases to about 5.4%, and from there the road alternates gently between roughly 5% and 8% kilometer by kilometer - the hardest full kilometer, km 8, averages about 7.8%. The last 800 m up to the refuge steepen slightly to about 7.5%, so save a little for the finish.
The steepest 500 m averages 9.8%, the steepest 1 km 8.5%, the steepest 2 km 7.7%, the steepest 5 km 6.9% and the steepest 10 km 6.7%. With no brutal pitches, this is a great climb to ride at a steady tempo - the real variable is the altitude, which takes you nearly 1,000 m above the coastal villages below.
Roadway: Paved the entire way. From Fornazzo the climb follows the S.P. Trazzera Mareneve, the provincial road that runs across Etna's northeast flank toward Linguaglossa, then turns off at the Rifugio Citelli junction for the final stretch to the hut. It's a narrow mountain road with many shaded sections, and riders report a good surface. Because it's also the access road to the eastern lava-viewing area, it can close on short notice during eruptive activity: in January 2026 the Città Metropolitana di Catania closed the stretch above Fornazzo to all vehicles and pedestrians, and in August 2026 it was closed to cars at Fornazzo from August 13 until it reopened on August 20. Check INGV's Etna Observatory (ct.ingv.it) and current ordinances before you go.
Traffic: Normally light, mostly local traffic and visitors heading to Citelli. That changes completely during eruptions, when thousands of people a night have driven up to reach the lava-viewing trails, leaving cars parked along both sides of the road for kilometers. If Etna is putting on a show, ride in the morning and avoid the evening rush.
Parking: Fornazzo is a small hamlet, so park considerately along the Milo-Linguaglossa provincial road that runs through the village, near the junction where the Mareneve begins. During eruptive phases this junction becomes the control point for the upper road and the village fills with cars, and an ordinance has banned parking on the downhill side of the Mareneve.
Stock up before you start - there are no shops or water stops between Fornazzo and the refuge. Rifugio Citelli serves coffee and drinks, but it's smaller and has fewer services than Rifugio Sapienza or Rifugio Brunek, so carry enough water and food for the full climb. The finish at 1,739 m (5,704 ft) can be much colder and windier than the coast, so pack a layer for the descent.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Fornazzo's name comes from a local legend that its founder lived in a lava cave shaped like an ancient Roman stone furnace (fornace). The village's best-known landmark is the chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: during the eruption that began on August 3-4, 1979, lava flowing down the Pietracannone valley surrounded the chapel but left it standing, and the flow stopped after traveling more than 6 km. The chapel has since been restored and enlarged, and villagers carved 14 lava slabs into Stations of the Cross, visited at Easter in thanks for the village being spared.
Rifugio Citelli is also the trailhead for some of Etna's best hikes, including the Serracozzo path and the Serra delle Concazze trail toward Rocca della Valle and Pizzi Deneri, with huge views over the Valle del Bove. Etna's eastern flank is dense with climbs - Milo, Zafferana Etnea and Linguaglossa all have their own routes - so see the nearby options on our Routes in the Area tool.
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