Etna - the Biggest Active Vulcano in Europe |
Etna is like a big house cat, lying and spinning, but wakes up too often. - Leonardo Scaiscia (italian writer)
Etna rises by the Mediterranean sea between Catania and Messina and dominates the east part of Sicily. It is one of the biggest volcanoes in the world, and the biggest active volcano in Europe. It has been active the whole human history and has had several serious eruptions, the most devastating in 1669 that reached Catania and 2001-2002 that destroyed cable cars, skiing facilities and damaged the refugee center Rifugio Sapienza. Etna has eruptions regularly but few creates direct danger for the population. July 2013 Etna became under Unesco protection. Etna's original name is Mongibello, the mountain of the mountains, from the Italian Monte and Arabic Gebel, which both means mountain.
Eruptions are explosions that sounds like thunder, blows lava hundreds of meters, sometimes kilometers, in the air and creates magma rivers with a temperature up to 800° C. These eruptions does not only destroy, they create new cultivation areas and provides the Sicilian soil with rich nutrients like potassium and phosphorus for fertilization. The peak of the Volcano is at 3350 meters above the sea. You can visit the volcano even if it is erupting and look at the lava show. Just follow instructions carefully. In some places the lava flows just meters under the soil and makes the snow melt. Etna is also great for skiing during winter months. In February Etna is most filled with snow.
Etna welcomes all year around visitors and is great destination both for families and adventurers. Seasons and locations offers different activities. In the Etna mountain cities are arranged several food feasts and festivals during the year.
You can follow Etna's activity by surveillance video HERE
Alcantara Gorges River
Alcantara river is perfect for a longer hiking trip. It starts from Etna and goes all the way down to Giarre. The Gorges, Lava Forms and Columnar Basalt Formations, in Motta Camastara offers daily activities in nature, rafting, climbing, mountain bike tours, jeep tours and much more. Suits well for the adventurer as for families.
Circumetnea - The Etna Train
The Etna Train goes all the way around Etna from Catania to Giarre and the other way around. It passes several Etna medieval- and baroque mountain towns and offers magnificent views towards Etna, passes the lemon- and vineyards, the Pistachio district and several viewpoints towards central Sicily. Several departures daily.
Circumetnea train departs from Giarre and Catania once an hour. The trainline has been operative since 2 February 1895 and passes several mountain towns that surrounds the volcano Etna; S. Maria di Licodia, Adrano, Bronte, Randazzo, Castiglione di Sicilia to name few. Gives an magnificent overview of Etna and its surroundings reaching peak altitude of almost 1000 meters at Roccacalanna. For example departing from Catania and passing Misterbianco opens a wonderful panoramic view of the mountains with various vegetation. It is a rich agricultural area with cultivation of citrus fruits, nuts and olives, to later become vineyards and free walking animals from local farmers.
Until some time ago, these stops were at the service for the farmers who used the train to reach their agricultural areas, now to be the starting point for interesting excursions.
Cities by Circumetnea worth spending time in: Catania, Bronte, Randazzo, Castiglione di Sicilia, Linguaglossa and Giarre.
Circumetnea timetable click HERE
Etna hiking
Etna is a perfect area for hiking, trekking and natural tours for one day or for a longer stay. You do not need special approvals to hike around Etna, just respect for the environment to visit the nature not leaving anything and not bringing anything with you more than great memories. Etna has a rich fauna and offers an amazing vegetation show of colors growing on the black lava sand and stone soil. Etna offers a rich wild life with some wolves, deers, birds, rabbits and many other smaller animals like the sicilian wild cat.
The landscape changes because of regular eruptions and before visiting Etna please inform yourself of the eruption status, and be aware of fast weather changes. Comfortable start points for Etna experience is by Rifiugo Sapienza, south of Etna, and Piano Provenanza and Rifugio Citelli, north of Etna. Best time for hiking is June and first week of July when the flowers are in full bloom.
Northeast Sicily has endless hiking options. Whether you like hiking along the sea, through forests, up the hill or up the volcano you can. Places like Valle del Bove an area created by eruptions, south and west side of Etna for its volcanic cones, fresh lava and pistachio nuts, east and north side of Etna for the lava caves and oldest chestnut tree, top craters always changing the shape of Etna peaks, forests offers small roads to hills and mountains.
Please note. To reach the top crate Etna, you need an approval from authoroties and a guide.
For more information please contact us.
The landscape changes because of regular eruptions and before visiting Etna please inform yourself of the eruption status, and be aware of fast weather changes. Comfortable start points for Etna experience is by Rifiugo Sapienza, south of Etna, and Piano Provenanza and Rifugio Citelli, north of Etna. Best time for hiking is June and first week of July when the flowers are in full bloom.
Northeast Sicily has endless hiking options. Whether you like hiking along the sea, through forests, up the hill or up the volcano you can. Places like Valle del Bove an area created by eruptions, south and west side of Etna for its volcanic cones, fresh lava and pistachio nuts, east and north side of Etna for the lava caves and oldest chestnut tree, top craters always changing the shape of Etna peaks, forests offers small roads to hills and mountains.
Please note. To reach the top crate Etna, you need an approval from authoroties and a guide.
For more information please contact us.
Etna events
October Fest in Zafferana Etnea. Every year, each sunday during October in Zafferana Etnea is organized an agricultural feast to celebrate the local producers. Here you find local artisan food produce as wine, cheese, honey and much more. Also local handy craft and artisan beauty products, especially items made of lava stone. All stands offers tasting and you find them in Centro Storico.
The feast is called Ottobrata.
Etna Events The mayor and cultural director in Zafferana Etnea organizes artist, lecture, cinema and music events the whole summer, called Etna in Scena. With theatrical performances, symphony orchestra, poetry, film, famous artists and writers.
The event is under the artistic direction of Gianfranco Pappalardo Fiumara and starts 1st July and ends 1st September. Is also nationally known.
The feast is called Ottobrata.
Etna Events The mayor and cultural director in Zafferana Etnea organizes artist, lecture, cinema and music events the whole summer, called Etna in Scena. With theatrical performances, symphony orchestra, poetry, film, famous artists and writers.
The event is under the artistic direction of Gianfranco Pappalardo Fiumara and starts 1st July and ends 1st September. Is also nationally known.