Between the rivers Alcantara and Simeto rises our Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe located on the east coast of Sicily.
A Muntagna. The one who forged with her incandescent lava, the black stone and the crackling lapilli the history, the landscape, the culture, the soul of this city. The highest active volcano in Europe, with the lunar landscapes of the summit areas, the boundless slopes, the rural villages, the woods with multi-millennial trees and its rough paths.
Fertile mother and fimmina moody, she redesigns every day to her liking the face of Catania with the whims of its craters, the “white lady” and the clouds that adorn her like an elegant hat.
Living earth, to live in every season with volcanological guides, paths dedicated to trekking, mountain biking, canyoning and rafting, ski areas, taste shops, DOC vineyards and its wine cellars.
HOW TO REACH IT
SOUTH SIDE
The south side can be reached by bus AST: in Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII, in front of the train station of Catania, the ticket can be purchased in all official retailers Ast (Monday – Saturday), on board the bus itself and online also on the website astsicilia.it.
Ticket price: 6,60 € a/r
Start: from Catania at 8:15am
Return: from Rifugio Sapienza at 04:30pm (with arrival at Catania at 06:30pm)
NORTH SIDE
You can reach the north side from Catania, you can instead take advantage of the Circumetnea Railway (at the Borgo Catania station) or the buses of the Circumetnea Railway, which depart from the entrance of the Port of Catania (Sundays and public holidays are excluded).
To verify departures and hours, we invite you to check Circumetnea Railay offical site.
THE SUMMIT OF THE VOLCANO
You can reach the summit of the volcano from the south side using the Etna cable car :
Etna Sud – Nicolosi Nord (CT)
Tel. 095 914141 – 095 914142
Every day from 9:00 to 16:30 in summer (from April to November);
Every day from 9:00 to 15:45 in winter (December to March.
BY CAR
There are several state roads that allow you to get to Etna on wheels. In winter, snow chains or snow-specific wheels are mandatory.
Strada provinciale 92 Nicolosi-Rifugio Sapienza;
Strada provinciale 92 Zafferana Etnea-Rifugio Sapienza;
Strada Mareneve Zafferana Etnea-Rifugio Citelli-Linguaglossa;
Strada statale 120 Linguaglossa-Randazzo;
Strada statale 284 Randazzo-Adrano.
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What is the origin of the name Etna?
Over the centuries, the origin of the name Etna has given rise to numerous hypotheses. There are those who trace it back to the pronunciation of the ancient Greek of Aitna, the name given to the cities of Katane and Inessa and which derives from the classical Greek “ahito” or burn.
Our volcano, it seems was known as Aitne from Greeks and Aetna from Romans, but there are those who connect the name to the sicano “aithna” which means “ardent”.
Also in Greek, Etna or Aetna would also be the name of the nymph daughter of Uranus and Gaia or Ocean. United with Hephaestus, god of Fire, Aetna generated the Palici twins, who with the cyclops contributed to the construction of the volcano by a celestial blacksmith. Some other writings in Arabic, then, speak of the mountain as Jabal-al-Burkan (montagna del vulcano) o Jabal Aṭma Ṣiqilliya (“montagna somma della Sicilia”) o Jabal an-Nār (“montagna di fuoco”). It was this last to change Mons Gibel, from latin “mons” (mount) and from the arabic “jamal” (mount) and then became in Sicilian “Mungibeddu”. According to others Mongibello cames from Mulciber (qui ignem mulcet), one of the epithets by which he was called, by the Latins, the god Vulcan, which served to placate the destructive force of Etna. An important name, therefore, for a place in which many legends are set: a magical territory of which shepherds and farmers who lived on the slopes of Etna handed down passionate stories and myths
FROM THE SLOPES TO THE SUMMIT OF THE VOLCANO
From the slopes of the Etna volcano, Climbing up to the top of the volcano is an excursion to be enjoyed. Going up to Piano Provenzana, at 16 km from Linguaglossa and right in the heart of Etna Nord you can walk the paths and enjoy the memorable viewDo you want to treat yourself to an unusual day? We advice to choose excursion to four summit craters: at the meeting point of Rifugio Sapienza, In the Etna South area, you can find specialized guides who will take you to discover the highest active volcano in Europe and, from up there, you can admire the sea…from the mountain.
ASCENT TO THE CRATER
The ascent to the top of Etna Until the early 1900s it was considered an important undertaking and yet indispensable. Because only those who have experienced the emotion of reaching the top and observing with their own eyes the inside of the craters can describe the charm, the uniqueness and the magic of this show.
THE DISCOVERY OF THE PARK
Amazing agricultural landscapes and multiform are set among woods and lava flows, forming an environmental mosaic of rare beauty. Vineyards, olive groves, pistachios, hazelnut groves and orchards surround the volcano, testifying that Etna is a heritage of biodiversity to be protected and spread.
THE COUNTRIES AROUND THE VOLCANO
An essential path is undoubtedly the one linked to the periphery of the Etna Park: 59,000 hectares delimit the park of the highest active volcano in Europe, World Heritage Site. Let yourself be overwhelmed by the spirit of adventure and plan a memorable excursion.
ETNA ALL YEAR: EXCURSIONS TO GET TO KNOW THE VOLCANO IN EVERY SEASON
During the months of October and November climb up to Piano del Vescovo to admire the spectacular colors of Etna autumn. Already from Piano Provenzana you can walk around you of a very suggestive natural spectacle: in particular in the month of November, the numerous beech woods with the first snows in the background give a unique scen
Even in winter, during all the months in which we find snow at high altitude, the possible activities are different: inside the forest Ragabo, for example, you can take walks with snowshoes.
Melted snow at low and medium altitude, the majestic volcano offers great experiences for excursions accessible to all and with different degrees of difficulty and the opportunity to admire nature and breathtaking landscapes. Excursions and routes to do in the company of an authorized guide.
SKING ON THE VOLCAN
Ski on the volcan is one of the most more exciting adventures you can do, and when the volcano is near the sea the experience is unique.
ETNA IN SPRING
Three special paths, all with departure from Piano Provenzana – north side– to do in the company of a licensed guide.
SUMMER ITINERARIES
In the company of specialized guides, climb up to an altitude of 3340 meters (approximately) and start the descendent to the Craters of 2002.
Curiosity that maybe you didn’t know about the volcano of Catania
Etna numbers
+ 20° the slopes above 1800 meters
21 June 2013 UNESCO listed Mount Etna as a World Heritage Site
+ 30 eruptions on the 20° century
212 km di perimeter
372 days, the duration of the long eruption of 1950-51
1000 m.s.m the highest countries: Maletto and Ragalna
1570 square km of surface
1669 the most disastrous eruption, which gave rise to the Monti Rossi and reached Catania
1715 m.s.m Headquarters of the Catania Astrophysical Observatory, inaugurated in 1967
1983 the lava hit the Wisdom Refuge, causing considerable damage
1987 The park of Etna has been established
3326 mt., the height of Mount Etna
500.000 years ago the beginning of Etna’s activity
The magic of Etna
There are many the legends taht, during the centuries, have wrapped the genesis of our Mongibello with magic and mystery: from Hephaestus to Theseus, from Typheus to the love story of Acis and Galatea up to the evocative story that tells of a last wish of King Arthur and how this is closely connected to the wonderful story of our “muntagna”.
ph. Giò Giusa
