Commanding eastern Sicily is Mount Etna (3292 m), the highest and largest active volcano in Europe. Etna has been active in modern times, as close as 2001 and 2002. The most threatening eruption was in 1928 when the little village of Mascali was buried under its lava. The last eruption was in October 2002 when eastern Sicily was covered in thick, dirty air. The ash was seen as far away as on the coast of Tripoli. Luckily, none of the neighbouring villages were destroyed. The most violent eruption however took place on 11th March 1669 with the trail of destruction extending up to Catania, thirty-one kilometers away.

Etna plays an important role in Greek mythology. The god of fire and blacksmiths, Hephaestus, and his assistant, a single-eyed Cyclops, is said to have lived here. Zeus defeated Typhoeus the dragon under Etna and brought Olympus under his control. This led the 5th-century B.C. Greek philosopher, Empedocles, to jump into it so he’d get to Mount Olympus to his seat among the gods. Legend has it that when Typhoeus tried to break out of his prison under the volcano lava erupted and a powerful earthquake was caused.

You can choose where you want to enter the volcano from, the north or the south. Most of the lava flow in the recent past has been towards the south and this has caused the slope to be a desert. The northern side is thickly forested and a lot prettier and cooler than the southern side. But strangely, the southern side is more popular with visitors.

To get to the northern side, take the highway to Piano Provenzana that ends in an area full of souvenir shops. (During winter this is also a small skiing village with five downhill slopes and several cross-country trails.) You buy your tickets here to enter the tope of the volcanic mountain. The guided tour lasts two hours and costs 37€ for adults and 26€ for children under 16. These tours are quite frequent, especially in summer when there is a departure every hour.

The bus takes you up to an abandoned seismic exploration station. You can walk a bit farther to a point near the top for a closer look. There's no fire and brimstone to see however. And if there is all bus tours are immediately discontinued.
Etna is visible from ground level only in the morning; it is often hidden in mist after lunch.

The Foothills of Mt. Etna

For the best excursions to Mount Etna, get to Linguaglossa. Piano Provenza is easily accessible from here, from where you can visit the volcano’s summit as well as the ski resort. The summit can be reached either by van or you can also hike to the top. For the latter, you’ll take the same route used by the bus excursions and will take you three hours to get to the top.