scenic viewpoint
Torre del Filosofo (Etna Summit)
The high-altitude viewpoint near Mount Etna's summit craters offering surreal volcanic landscapes and sweeping Sicilian panoramas.
17 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeItalySicily
Belpasso
Sicily, Italy · Europe
About Belpasso
Belpasso is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Camporotondo Etneo, 18km from Mount Etna.
Belpasso is in Sicily, Italy, with about 16,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Camporotondo Etneo, about 4 km away.
Belpasso (formerly Malpasso; Sicilian: Malupassu or Marpassu) is a comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Catania in the Italian region of Sicily, located about 150 kilometres (93 mi) southeast of Palermo and about 10 kilometres (6 mi) northwest of Catania. Belpasso is the second biggest comune of theRead more
Catania's area for area (after Catania).
The original town was destroyed by the lava flows from Mount Etna in 1669. Rebuilt in a lower plain, that habitation was known as Fenice Moncada; the latter name derives from the family of the Princes of Paterno who owned the feud. This habitation proved malarial and was heavily damaged by the 1693 Sicily earthquake, causing the spot to be abandoned and named Malpasso, and the present town was founded in 1695 in lands belonging to the Duke of Montalto.
Belpasso is the home to the Condorelli company producing typical Sicilian sweets, exported in all parts of the world. Condorelli is also the owner of a bar franchising, mainly located in the Metropolitan City of Catania.
Belpasso borders the following municipalities: Adrano, Biancavilla, Bronte, Camporotondo Etneo, Castiglione di Sicilia, Catania, Lentini, Maletto, Mascalucia, Motta Sant'Anastasia, Nicolosi, Paternò, Ragalna, Ramacca, Randazzo, San Pietro Clarenza, Sant'Alfio, and Zafferana Etnea.
Where to Stay in Belpasso
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Belpasso?
Within an hour or so of Belpasso: Torre del Filosofo (Etna Summit) (17 km), Mount Etna (18 km), Giardini Naxos (36 km), Gole dell'Alcantara (36 km).
Are there any good drives near Belpasso?
The nearest famous roads are Targa Florio Circuit (Madonie).
Where is Belpasso?
Belpasso is in Sicily, Italy, about 4 km from Camporotondo Etneo.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 16,319
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Italy
- Region
- Sicily
- Timezone
- Europe/Rome
- Coordinates
- 37.5919, 14.9799
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Italy
ACI roadside assistance: 803 116. ZTL (limited traffic zones) in city centres are camera-enforced.
Full driving guide for ItalyTags
Worth the detour from Belpasso
6 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
Mount Etna
Europe's tallest and most active volcano, rising 3,357 meters above eastern Sicily with frequent dramatic eruptions.
18 km · about 20 min drive
beach
Giardini Naxos
The site of the first Greek colony in Sicily, now a beach resort at the foot of Taormina with views of Mount Etna.
36 km · about 40 min drive
natural wonder
Gole dell'Alcantara
Basalt gorge near Etna where the cold Alcantara river cuts between 25-m walls of prismatic lava columns, like a Giant's Causeway turned canyon. Wade the icy river from the Motta Camastra entrance or view it from the free stairway.
36 km · about 40 min drive
landmark
Taormina
A glamorous hilltop town in Sicily with an ancient Greek theater offering jaw-dropping views of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea.
40 km · about 45 min drive
ancient ruins
Teatro Antico di Taormina
A Greek-Roman theatre framing Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea, Sicily's most spectacular ancient stage.
40 km · about 45 min drive
Driving roads near Belpasso
- 17 kmTorre del Filosofo (Etna Summit)The high-altitude viewpoint near Mount Etna's summit craters offering surreal volcanic landscapes and sweeping Sicilian panoramas.
Driving in Italy
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.82/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€8.50/100km
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
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