09Apr2015

The breath-taking wonder of the world: the Sicilian Mount Etna

Written byRenata Jirasova09 Apr. 2015

For many years the Italian volcano Etna is one of the most fascinating and exciting tourist attractions. Millions of people from all over the world are arriving every year to Sicily to take pictures of erupting Etna and see an awesome beauty and power of nature. In 2013, the Mount was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Mount Etna is the highest European volcano (3,329 m/10,922 ft) and is located between Catania and Messina on the east coast of the Sicily peninsula. The second highest volcano is Italian Mount Vesuvio (near Napoli). Only Pico de Teide in Tenerife surpasses Mount Etna but from a geographical point of view the Canarian island Tenerife is already located in Africa.

Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and it is almost in a permanent activity. There is the longest documented record of eruptions which display a whole range of types of volcanic eruptions. The first recorded observation of its eruption was made by Greek historian Diodorus Siculus in 425 BC. For centuries Etna has been threatening the heavily populated towns and villages situated around but despite the threat, the Mount is a cornerstone of the Sicilian economy and tourism. The fertile volcanic soils support extensiven agriculture, vineyards and and orchards spread across the slopes of the Etna and around the city Catania.

Due to its history of recent activity and nearby population, Mount Etna has been designated a Decade Volcano by the United Nations.

How to get to Etna?

The volcano Etna is located on the east coast of Sicily, about 59 km to the north of city Catania. The easiest way how to get it there is to fly to Catania, where is the international airport of Sicily, and then continue by car to the main parking Piazzale Refugio Sapienza at an altitute 2,000 metres (about 50 km, 1 hour jouney). From this point you will take the cable car (30€ a return ticket). It runs until 4:15 p.m.

Cheaper, but physically demanding, is to go up on foot (approx. 2,5 hours) under the cable car or along the marked path.

The cable car ends at an altitude of 2,500 metres above sea level. Now you can continue on foot or take a special bus up to an altitude of 2,700 metres. It is the maximum possible height that can be reached without a guide. Respect that and don't go further alone. The surface is very loose in some parts and it is very windy and cold at the top.

Don´t forget to take a warm jacket, a cap and good shoes. It is cold here even in summer. If you don´t have, you can buy warm clothes in souvenir shops at parking Piazzale Refugio Sapienza. Or you can borrow a warm jacket for a fee in the cable car building.

Where to sleep nearby?

For adrenalin-lovers and romantic souls, who want to spend one or two nights nearest the crater, I can recommend the small, lovely hotel Corsaro (800 m from parking Refugio Sapienza). Rooms are spacious and clean. Some rooms have a terrace and offer spectacular view over the valley of Catania. If you are lucky you will see an eruption showing a splash of red in the sky above Etna. There is also a nice little spa in the hotel helping to relax at the end of a day trekking.

Price for 1 night / 2 persons: from 119 to 190 EUR (it is up to quality of the room)

Rent a car (or take a bus tour) and go from Catania to the parking Piazzale Rifugio Sapienza. Then take a cable car.There are many souvenir shops at the parking Piazzale Rifugio Sapienza. You can buy here also warm clothes. The lava flows down the hills above the city of Catania and Taormina.

The eruption of Etna offers to adventurous people the unique, unforgettable performance, especially at dawn.

A nocturnal show of erupting Etna, a view from 50 km distant city of Catania.

Bravery or foolishness? In any case a unique photo of an eager adrenalin-lover standing in a dangerously near distance of the flowing burning lava.A fascinating beauty and at the same time power of nature

Crateri Silvestri: One of the non-erupting crater of the Mount Etna (nearby a parking place Rifugio Sapienza) looks very innocently during a sunny spring day and offers to tourists a lovely tour.

If you decide not to go up to Etna, for sure do not forget to visit the lovely, mediaeval town of Taormina, offering beautiful views of the Mount Etna.

When visiting Sicily you definitely need to watch your wallet and cameras!