Rifugio Citelli Etna: history, views and Valle del Bove

Rifugio Citelli on Mount Etna: history, views and starting point for the Valle del Bove

Rifugio Citelli was for many years one of the most important and popular refuges on Mount Etna. Located on the eastern slope of the volcano, it was an essential reference point for hikers and guides, thanks to its strategic position and the beauty of the surrounding views.

Today, unfortunately, the refuge is closed, but it remains a symbolic place for Etna hiking.

An authentic refuge on the eastern slope of Mount Etna

Rifugio Citelli was not just a hospitality facility, but a true mountain refuge, capable of keeping alive the spirit of welcome and sharing. For years it offered refreshment and overnight accommodation, becoming one of the few equipped refuges on eastern Mount Etna.

Its role went beyond hospitality: it was also a meeting place and a centre for spreading knowledge of the volcano's culture.

Ideal starting point for the Valle del Bove and the Grotta di Serracozzo

Thanks to its position, Rifugio Citelli was considered the ideal starting point for the excursion to the Valle del Bove and the Grotta di Serracozzo, one of the most evocative itineraries on Mount Etna.

Not by chance, Dream Island had chosen it as the meeting point for this excursion, now offered here:
👉 https://dreamisland.it/escursioni/valle-del-bove-e-grotta-di-serracozzo

This confirmed the logistical value of the refuge as a base for guided excursions among lava flows, underground tunnels and unique panoramic overlooks.

The overlook over the Valle del Bove

From Rifugio Citelli it was possible to reach spectacular panoramic points with a direct view over the Valle del Bove, one of the most imposing volcanic amphitheatres in Europe. A place that allows you to understand the power of Mount Etna and its continuous geological evolution.

Panorama over the Ionian coast

On the clearest days, from the refuge you could admire a wide panorama over the Ionian coast, with the gaze stretching from the sea to the slopes of the volcano. A fascinating contrast that made Rifugio Citelli a unique place of its kind.

Brief history of Rifugio Citelli

Rifugio Citelli has a long history linked to the Club Alpino Italiano and to hiking on Mount Etna. In its last years of activity it welcomed thousands of visitors, also becoming a safety and support outpost for those who frequent the mountain.

Its closure, due to complex bureaucratic and administrative matters, today represents an important loss for the entire system of Etna refuges.

A closed refuge, but central to the future of Mount Etna

Although it is closed today, Rifugio Citelli remains a symbolic place of eastern Mount Etna. Its reopening would mean giving back to the territory a fundamental support point for hiking, safety and the sustainable enhancement of the volcano.