As of 17 August 2026. This overview summarises the current situation in Sicily. On Etna, eruptive activity increased noticeably again towards the evening of 16 August and is once more affecting flight operations in Catania. A whole series of official access restrictions apply around the volcano, some mandatory, some worded only as recommendations. On the north flank, roads remain closed following the earthquake of 15 August. Three major events are coming up over the next two weeks: the ongoing Segesta Teatro Festival, Lipari’s patron saint feast on 24 August, and the summer celebration for San Corrado in Noto on 30 August.
Travel & Transport
Restrictions are back in place at Catania–Fontanarossa Airport as of the morning of 17 August. Due to heavy ash emission, airspace sectors B1 and B2 were closed; arrivals are consequently limited to five aircraft per hour, while departures face no restriction. So this is not a closure but a throughput limit: operations continue, but noticeably slower, which makes delays and occasional diversions likely. The airport operator has set the measure to run until 2pm, subject to further developments – after the nine-day closure that only ended on 15 August, this is the second restriction phase within a short time. Anyone flying via Catania today or in the coming days should check flight status directly with the airline before heading to the airport. If a flight is cancelled, our compass for alternative routes can help you find realistic detours.
On Etna’s north flank, the Mareneve road above Linguaglossa is closed above roughly 1,300 metres following the earthquake of 15 August; the Piano Provenzana ski centre is therefore currently unreachable by road. No reopening had been confirmed as of today. In addition, the Mareneve section between Fornazzo and the Rifugio Citelli is closed to traffic by municipal order. Stopping and parking are also banned, with vehicles subject to towing, on the Mareneve and on provincial road 59, because many onlookers had been blocking the carriageway.
No strikes have been reported for the coming days on the ferries to the outlying islands. The shipping companies have temporarily suspended the recently announced fare increases for connections to the smaller islands while alternatives are negotiated. At the height of the season, ferries and hydrofoils remain heavily booked, with vehicle spaces often sold out – it’s worth checking the ferry connections to the islands before booking.
Nature & Safety
Etna: current activity
After calming down on 15 August, activity picked up again during the course of 16 August. The effusive eruption continues from two vents at 2,750 and 1,990 metres; the leading edge of the lava flow has reached 1,395 metres, in the area between Rocca delle Palombe and Rocca Musarra. The current eruptive phase saw a marked escalation on 8 August: a new eruptive fissure opened at around 2,500 metres near Monte Rittmann, producing a lava flow towards the Valle del Bove, accompanied by an explosion with a pyroclastic flow in the area between Monte Rittmann and Monte Simone. On 16 August there were first brief explosions at the Northeast Crater between around 9:40 and 12:40, with an ash plume drifting southeast; around 6:20pm Strombolian activity resumed at the Voragine, and shortly afterwards ash emission intensified at the Northeast Crater.
The measurement data paint a consistent picture: volcanic tremor rose during the evening from low and medium to high levels, with tremor sources located between the Northeast Crater and the Voragine at 2,800 to 3,000 metres altitude. The number of infrasound events increased sharply from the evening onwards, with sources at the Voragine. Tiltmeters on the north flank recorded slight high-frequency changes, while the satellite monitoring network showed no notable deformation. The aviation warning remains at Orange. How long this phase will last is uncertain – this portal does not offer its own forecast; only the statements of the responsible volcano observatory and the authorities are binding. Anyone wanting to keep an eye on the situation themselves can find live images of the volcano on our Sicily webcams page.
What is prohibited on Etna
The regional civil protection authority declared the alert phase on 13 August, after the volcano observatory raised the warning level. This was justified by a high probability of short-term lava fountaining. The result is a complete closure of the summit zone, i.e. the areas above 2,500 metres. This closure explicitly also applies to guided tours – the common impression that the summit remains accessible with a mountain guide is not currently correct. High-altitude excursions are suspended, and mountain rescue, volcano guides, the forestry corps and fire brigade are deployed to monitor the trails.
Also prohibited since 13 August is approaching the lava front to less than 200 metres. The order was triggered because numerous visitors without suitable equipment had approached right up to the glowing flow to take photos. In addition there are the traffic closures: the Mareneve above roughly 1,300 metres from Linguaglossa, the Fornazzo–Rifugio Citelli section, vehicle barriers in the Fornazzo hamlet at the turn-off to the Mareneve and at the Magazzeni chapel, as well as the stopping and parking ban on the Mareneve and provincial road 59. Enforcement is carried out by the police, forestry corps and municipal police; violations are being reported.
Recommended, but not prohibited – the difference matters
For the northeast flank, the municipality of Sant’Alfio issued its own rules on 8 August, which remain in force until further notice and carefully distinguish between obligation and recommendation. It is mandatory that the marked trails must not be left. By contrast, it is only a recommendation to be accompanied by mountain and volcano guides on the Serracozzo trail and on the route from Case Paternò Castello to Monte Scorsone, as well as not to go beyond the lower viewpoint of the Rocca della Valle trail and, in any case, not above 2,050 metres. Supervisory staff are authorised to check the clothing and equipment of hikers heading to the Serracozzo trail. Exempt from the restrictions are rescue and security personnel, civil protection, on-duty park staff, researchers, mountain and volcano guides, and qualified Alpine Club personnel.
Important for planning: the 2,050-metre limit is a recommendation and applies only to this section of the northeast flank, not to the whole volcano. Conversely, the 2,500-metre closure of the summit zone is a prohibition and applies all around. Anyone who conflates the two either plans unnecessarily conservatively or unintentionally crosses a genuine closure line. On the mountain itself, the orders of several municipalities apply side by side, can change at short notice, and should be checked before setting out, either at the relevant starting point or with a local guiding agency.
What is currently possible
The lower volcano remains accessible, most reliably via the south side: the Rifugio Sapienza at around 1,900 metres can be reached by car or scheduled bus from Catania, and from there the cable car goes up to about 2,500 metres. That altitude is the upper limit for travellers without a guide anyway – it currently coincides with the closure line, so the destination above is unavailable, though the approach up to that point is not. The cable car can close at short notice in strong wind, thunderstorms or volcanic activity; operating status should be checked on the day of travel. Hikes at lower elevations, visits to extinct secondary craters, and guided tours below the closure line remain possible as before. What this means in detail is explained on our Visiting Etna page.
Earthquake on the north flank
The magnitude 3.9 earthquake at midday on 15 August, around seven kilometres west of Linguaglossa in the Piano Provenzana area, reactivated the Pernicana fault and left cracks in the Mareneve road surface. Two food and drink establishments were evacuated as a precaution. For hikers, this means access points and trails on the north flank can currently only be used to a limited extent, and closures must be observed on site. The ascent via the south side is not affected.
Heat and wildfire risk
For the whole of Monday, 17 August, a medium hazard level applies in all nine provinces, meaning an early wildfire warning; the measure runs for 24 hours from midnight. Peak temperatures of up to 35 degrees are expected – noticeably lower than the previous week, but still enough for fire to spread quickly in windy conditions. Hikes should start early, water should be packed even for short distances, and open fires and outdoor barbecues should be avoided. Current daily readings and the beach assessment are available under Sicily Weather; only the responsible authorities issue binding warnings.
Events & Culture
Segesta Teatro Festival: this week at the Ancient Theatre
Now in its fifth edition, the Segesta Teatro Festival runs until the end of August and uses two extraordinary venues: the Ancient Theatre on Monte Barbaro and the terrace in front of the Doric Temple of Segesta. The week from 17 to 23 August is packed. On 17 and 18 August, Gabriele Vacis’s Compagnie PoEM performs the “Trilogia dei Vangeli” at the Ancient Theatre, each evening at 7:30pm; on 18 August at 5am there is also a sunrise meditation on the programme there. On 19 August the Alessio Alessandra Band plays at the temple at 9:30pm, on 20 August at 7:30pm follows the Italian premiere of “Traces of Rupture” by the Lebanese Zoukak Collective, and on 21 August at 9:30pm the concert by the group Tamuna at the temple. The highlight of the week is Euripides’ “Orestes” on 22 and 23 August, each at 7:30pm at the Ancient Theatre, performed by an ensemble of actors under 35.
Practical tips: start times follow a fixed pattern – theatre at the Ancient Theatre at 7:30pm, concerts at the temple at 9:30pm, sunrise performances at 5am. Tickets are available in advance and at the box office of the Archaeological Park; single tickets and season passes are both possible. The path from the car park to the Ancient Theatre is steep, though a shuttle within the park shortens it. Sturdy shoes and a seat cushion are worth bringing, as the stone steps are uncomfortable; it cools down noticeably on the hill in the evening, so a light jacket is worthwhile even in August. Anyone planning to visit the site during the day anyway should go early, as there is little shade in the park.
Festa di San Bartolomeo on Lipari: 21 to 24 August
On 24 August, Lipari celebrates its patron saint, San Bartolomeo – the most important feast of the entire Aeolian Islands, traditionally involving all the islands of the archipelago. The saint has been regarded as Lipari’s patron since the early Middle Ages; his relics arrived on the island in the 6th century and established the importance of the cathedral on the Castello. The secular programme on the Marina Corta begins on 21 August at 7:30pm with Lipari’s town band and at 10pm with a cover band; on 22 August a live band follows at 10pm and a DJ set at 11:30pm, and on 23 August the concert by Fabrizio Moro takes place at 10pm. On the feast day itself, a show band performs at 10pm, fireworks light up the bay at midnight, and celebrations continue late into the night.
The religious part has followed the same pattern for years: several Masses in the cathedral in the morning, the pontifical Mass in the evening, followed by the procession with the image of the saint and the ornate “Vascelluzzo” reliquary through the streets of the centre, and late at night the blessing of seafarers before a gathering of boats below the cathedral. The exact times for this year are announced shortly beforehand by the parish and municipality and should be checked there. In practical terms, this means that around 24 August, accommodation on Lipari is scarce and the hydrofoils from Milazzo are heavily booked – book the outward and return journey as early as possible, and avoid putting the return trip on the last sailing. During the procession and fireworks, the Marina Corta is packed; the path up to the Castello offers more space and a good overview. Those who prefer things quieter can stay on one of the neighbouring islands and come over just for the feast day.
Summer celebration for San Corrado in Noto: highlight on 30 August
In Noto, the patron saint feast for San Corrado Confalonieri has been running since the end of July – the hermit from Piacenza who lived in a cave outside the town in the 14th century and is now venerated as its patron saint. The town celebrates him twice a year; the August feast is the larger one and draws pilgrims from across the province. From 25 to 27 August, the preparatory triduum takes place each evening at 7pm, 28 August is a day of penance and fasting, and on the nights that follow, pilgrims arrive on foot from Pachino and Rosolini. On 29 August, the eve of the feast, Masses are held at 5am, 7:30am and 7pm, followed by First Solemn Vespers at 8pm.
The feast day is Sunday, 30 August: at 9am the flower offering before the statue on the Piazzale Adorno, with a procession from the cathedral, at 10:30am the Solemn Pontifical Mass, and at 7pm the procession with the silver Arca through the streets of the Baroque old town, stopping at the prison and at the Church of the Santissimo Crocifisso. Characteristic of the feast are the bearers of the “Cilii”, large decorated candle poles depicting scenes from the saint’s life. The Ottavario follows from 31 August to 5 September, with the return procession of the Arca on 6 September at 7pm. Practical tip: on the feast day, parts of the old town are closed to traffic, and the access restriction that already applies to the centre is extended – park in the car parks below the old town and walk up. The Corso Vittorio Emanuele gets very crowded in the evening; the side alleys and the steps to the Chiesa di Montevergine offer alternative routes. Entry to the churches is free, and no tickets are needed for the procession.
General & Tourism
Four panels attributed to Antonello da Messina disappeared from the Regional Museum in Messina on the night of 15 August: three of the five surviving panels of the 1473 San Gregorio polyptych, plus a rare panel painted on both sides. Two of the panels – the depictions of San Gregorio and San Benedetto – were recovered and secured, still on the museum grounds. The perpetrators had climbed over the fence on the Viale Annunziata and forced open a side door; the case is being investigated as serious art theft, and checks at ports, airports and motorways have been stepped up. The museum remained closed on 16 August for the investigation and is in any case closed on Mondays as a rule. Anyone wanting to see Antonello’s works in Messina should for now expect that the room is not stocked as usual – a call ahead of the visit is advisable. Basic information on admission and opening rules for Sicilian museums can be found under Museums in Sicily.
On the Aeolian Islands, the mid-season assessment from local businesses is turning out better than feared in early summer. The Ferragosto rush is over; the coming weeks until mid-September are, by experience, considered a more pleasant travel period on the islands, since the water stays warm while day-tripper numbers decrease.
Note: all information as of 17 August 2026. Before travelling, please check current timetables, opening hours, event dates, and weather and safety warnings again. Access rules on Etna can change within hours; only the orders of the local authorities in charge are binding.
