The route begins at the seaside. After a couple of kilometers, you’ll encounter a short stretch where the path is overgrown with bushes and scattered with rubbish. Don’t let this discourage you—it’s only a very small section. Keep going, and soon the trail becomes well-marked and well-maintained. And beautiful!
The first 12–15 km are mostly on asphalt, but they’re pleasant, quiet roads. Around kilometer 9, you’ll find the only water point along the entire route, so make sure to refill there.
From that point, the trail heads into the forest, which is truly beautiful. Eventually, the path leaves the forest and continues through volcanic ash—this part is quite tough. Trekking poles are highly recommended, as well as gaiters (which I unfortunately didn’t have). You might feel tempted to step onto the patches of grass, but remember: this is a national park, and those plants are extremely fragile. Stay in the ash, respect the environment, and embrace the challenge—it’s a volcano after all; so, stay on the ash and go on!!!
I started at 13, which wasn’t the best choice, especially in summer. By 17:20 I reached the summit, and the view was absolutely worth it. From the top, you can descend to Piano Provenzana, about an hour of easy jog downhill, where cars are permitted.