Not everyone embarks on an Italy trip to put their feet up and enjoy the country’s slow pace of life. Some folks head to Italy for excitement, and that’s exactly what climbing Mount Etna provides.
Not everyone embarks on an Italy trip to put their feet up and enjoy the country’s slow pace of life. Some folks head to Italy for excitement, and that’s exactly what climbing Mount Etna provides.
If you’re on the fence about visiting Mount Etna, here are 5 reasons why you should climb this famous Italian landmark. So, grab your walking boots and let Ciao Italy guide you!
The architecture in Italy, from Rome to Florence, is only a small part of what Italy has to offer. There are stunning vistas, beautiful mountains, and lovely beaches to visit. One of the most famous of Italy’s natural landmarks is Mount Etna, Southern Italy’s most sublime attraction. Located in Etna National Park, stretching over 224 miles and including around 20 towns, dominated by the mountain itself, this is a great big swathe of Sicily to explore!
How many times do you have the opportunity to climb up the side of an active volcano? Mount Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe and its last eruption was in 2016! This does ensure that visiting Mount Etna is quite safe. The more frequently a volcano erupts, the less the lava and gas builds up resulting in some very picturesque lava flows instead of chaotic explosions.
Mount Etna has been an important landmark and Italian feature for thousands of years. Once upon a time the Ancient Greeks, who then controlled Sicily, believed that Cyclops, the legendary one-eyed monster lived in the volcano. Homer’s historic work of fiction, The Odyssey, featured Mount Etna as the home of both the god of fire and metal-working, Vulcan, and Typhon, a 100 headed monster.
The best reason to climb Mount Etna is the view. Looking out over Sicily from its peak, Mount Etna lets you see medieval towns, rolling fields, and acres of vineyards. From volcanic ash, through craters and barren alien-like landscapes, to the verdant green of Sicilian hills in the distance, Etna provides you with a view of the country that truly has to be seen to be believed.
Locals use Mount Etna’s caves to store meat and wine. The volcanic ash is used to grow exceptional wines, and the extremely fertile mountain serves up apples, chestnuts, and hazelnuts from its abundance of orchards and terraces. But the Sicilian wine, grown from Mount Etna’s ash, is reason enough to make the journey to this part of Sicily.
When climbing Mount Etna, make sure to dress for the weather, and pack a pair of sunglasses. There’s always a lot of ash and dust, especially when it’s windy. Hiking Mount Etna isn’t always easy going, but the wonderful view from its summit makes the hard graft worthwhile!
When booking an Italian vacation, make sure to get in touch with Ciao Italy. We’ll help you to find the best Italian holiday package for you.
