volcano

Monte Etna

Our english speaking driver in dark suite will be waiting for you on the shore with a paper board showing your Party Name. Following a journey of approximately an hour and a half, you will travel through vineyards and valleys of stratified lava, until reaching an altitude of 2000 metres. Along the way you will be able to observe the vegetation that grows in striking progression, alternating the Mediterranean maquis of the low altitudes with a whole series of mountain forms that become increasingly bare as you travel upwards. From the top of the Silvestri Craters you can admire the volcano in its entire spectacular, and at the same time terrifying, charm. You will have plenty of time for admiring the incredible landscape and taking spectacular photographs before returning to the base.

more infos:

Mount Etna in Classical Greek, Aetna in Latin, also known as Muncibeḍḍu in Sicilian and Mongibello in Italian, (a combination of Latin mons and Arabic gibel, both meaning mountain) is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, close to Messina and Catania. Its Arabic name was Jebel Utlamat (the Mountain of Fire). It is the largest active volcano in Europe, currently standing 3.345 metres (11.000 ft) high, though this varies with summit eruptions; the mountain is 21 m (69 ft) lower now than it was in 1981. It is the highest mountain in Italy south of the Alps. Etna covers an area of 1,190 km² (460 sq mi) with a basal circumference of 140 km. This makes it by far the largest of the three active volcanoes in Italy, being about two and a half times the height of the next largest, Mount Vesuvius. Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and is in an almost constant state of eruption. It is also believed to be the world’s oldest active volcano.The fertile volcanic soils support extensive agriculture, with vineyards and orchards spread across the lower slopes of the mountain and the broad Plain of Catania to the south. Due to its history of recent activity and nearby population, Mount Etna has been designated a Decade Volcano by the United Nations.