Etna is the most active volcano in Italy and much of the world.
It rises on the east coast of Sicily, where it is also called Mungibeddu or 'a Muntagna', and is about 3,400 metres high with a considerable diameter of 40 kilometres.
Over the centuries, many famous people have spoken of Etna's magnificence: from Pindar and Homer to Goethe, Guy De Maupassant and De Amicis, as well as scientists, writers, philosophers and emperors. And speaking of emperors, the story goes that, in 125 AD, Hadrian reached the top of the volcano, from where he admired the sunrise. It was the most beautiful of his life, so much so that Hadrian, remembering that episode, said: "It was one of the supreme moments of my life".
Today, all travellers can relive the emperor's experience, arriving at the summit and allowing themselves to be embraced by a view that is moving, to say the least. Mount Etna offers breathtaking views, but the nature surrounding it is no less impressive. The surface of the volcano is as varied as can be: from the richest flora, with dense forests, to the most total desolation as you approach the summit, with lunar landscapes created by the dark colour of the magmatic rock. Above 1,000 metres, in winter and often in summer, the volcano is covered by a thick layer of snow, which makes its appearance even more fascinating.
On Mount Etna you can visit the Serra la Nave Astronomical Observatory, located at 1,725 metres above sea level. Here you can book a visit to one of the telescopes and observe the sun during the day and the other stars from sunset onwards. Another special feature of Etna are undoubtedly its underground caves, the deepest and largest in Italy and among the most famous in the world.
