The 1879 eruption of Mount Etna, occurring in an Italy that had only recently achieved national unity, marked a fundamental chapter in the understanding of volcanic phenomena and associated risk prevention. This event is particularly significant not only for its power but also because it generated two simultaneous lateral eruptions on opposite flanks of the volcano, to the North and South. In volcanology, eruptions like this, which produce eruptive fissures in two distinct locations, are defined as BILATERAL. The eruptive and seismic activity of 1879 followed patterns similar to those observed during the “Perfect Eruption” of 2002-2003. In both eras, the eruptive fractures were located on the South-east flank of Monte Frumento Supino, where the Barbagallo Crater stands today, and on the north flank, in the so-called North-East rift. In 1878, as in 2002, a reawakening of Mount Etna was observed through various volcanic and seismic phenomena. In particular, the mud eruption of the Paternò “Salinelle,” which began in November 1878 and ended just before the eruption, proved to be a crucial precursor to the eruptive activity. The Paternò mud springs (Salinelle di Paternò) have been closely studied by the INGV, which documented their correlation with volcanic events.
Orazio Silvestri, a prominent scientist of the era, drafted significant reports on Mount Etna’s eruptive manifestations, paying particular attention to the mud eruption at the Salinelle—the only documented precursor to the 1879 eruption.

The Great Eruption of 1879

The actual eruption began on May 26, 1879, and concluded on June 7 of the same year. As described in Silvestri’s reports, volcanic ash fall reached as far as Reggio Calabria. The impact on agriculture was devastating, particularly on the northern slope, where lava flows severely damaged crops near Passopisciaro and the Mojo Plain.

The lava flows reached within 560 meters of the Alcantara River.
The 1879 eruption of Mount Etna is not merely a historical event; it represents a major landmark for modern volcanology.

Studies conducted from Silvestri’s insights to modern INGV monitoring continue to provide valuable data for predicting volcanic activity, highlighting the importance of a systematic scientific approach to volcanic risk management.