Etna's crater
In the shadow of the Etna Volcano
04 October 2021 - Categorie: The places of the heart, Nature tourism, Parks and Nature Reserves Tags:
As mysterious as it is loved, the Etna Volcano is one of the symbols of Sicily. Dominating the Eastern area of the region, the Volcano rises at the centre of the homonymous park, which is home to a great variety of flora and fauna thanks to the soil that is rich in minerals and nutritional substances.
Etna is the most important active Volcano in Europe, standing at 3300 metres, and its activity can be traced back 600,000 years, in an underwater environment, when the “mountain” was still hidden from view. The first written evidence dates back 2000 years with the testimony of Diodorus Siculus relating to the movement of Sicanians towards Western Sicily following a violent eruption of the volcano.
Etna is the most important active Volcano in Europe, standing at 3300 metres, and its activity can be traced back 600,000 years, in an underwater environment, when the “mountain” was still hidden from view. The first written evidence dates back 2000 years with the testimony of Diodorus Siculus relating to the movement of Sicanians towards Western Sicily following a violent eruption of the volcano.
The origin of the name “Etna” is highly debated, but in general, it can said that it comes from an archaic/indigenous language associated to the verb “burn”. Another name of the Volcano, namely Mongibello, has Latin or Arab origins, but is currently used with less frequency, if not to indicate conventionally only the top part of the mountain. In the area of Catania, Etna is also called simply and affectionately “a muntagna” to underline the close connection of the residents of the area with Etna, which is both feared and loved.
In addition to its importance in geological and naturalistic terms, Etna is also an important reference point for tourism on the island, thanks to the possibility to holiday on its slopes, practice sport or hiking; skiing, cycling, running and motor racing are just some of the activities that can be practiced on Etna during a holiday in Sicily.
Excursions on Etna
Catania: view of Mount Etna
Etna - lava flow
Excursion in a 4x4 on Etna
Etna from the air
Another strong point of a holiday close to Etna is the possibility to alternate typically mountainous landscapes (with snow almost all year) with charming beaches, thanks to the nearby coastline: those who wish to holiday close to the Volcano can also easily reach Catania, along the Riviera dei Ciclopi and also Taormina, giving themselves many different types of holiday in Sicily in a single stay. Another must-see site is the Alcantara River Park with its suggestive Gullies, along natural canyons deriving from lava flows smoothed by the running of the River Alcantara which, over time, have taken on their fascinating black and shiny almost surreal appearance.
Recommended villas
A holiday in Sicily has to include good food: in the area of Etna, there is variety of local dishes, including salami, cheeses and high-quality meats, but the true star is the green pistachio, principal resource of the Etna territory. The green pistachio of Bronte (a town on the western slopes of Etna) has PDO designation, is a Slow Food presidium, and used to make a large variety of both sweet and savoury dishes.
For those who love an adventurous holiday full of surprises and novelties, Etna and the slopes of the volcano are one of the favourite places in Sicily, where nature, sport, food and… mystery come together!