Hotel and lava flow on Mount Etna in 1983, illustration. Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano on the island of Sicily, Italy. This hotel is the Rifugio Sapienza (originally a military sports complex). This lava flow of 9 April 1983 reached as high as the roof and put pressure on the North wall and destroyed nearby buildings. The hotel building survived. Etna's lava is blocky and viscous, so moves slowly enough that the inhabitants were able to escape. Despite the obvious risks, many people inhabit the lower flanks of the volcano to farm its rich, fertile soil.