Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe but it is also one of the highest mountains in the Mediterranean. This is proven by the fact that it is visible from almost every corner of Sicily, from the Aeolian Islands … including Stromboli, and that it can be clearly photographed from Calabria and even from the mountains of Basilicata. It is not uncommon to see many shots taken from Malta around the web. However, these have often sparked controversy and ironic jokes. Yet some of the most famous photographers on the island have created real photo reports (including undeniable “live” videos) with the summit of Etna emerging far away from the blue of the sea. Among many, the shots of the Maltese photographer Daniel Cilia ( SEE HERE ) are true masterpieces.
In Malta, looking for Etna
Could it become a photographic itinerary, the show of our volcano seen from Malta? It depends … on many things. First of all on the visibility, which must be excellent and free of any haze – a condition, this, very rare in the Mediterranean.
Secondly, it depends on Etna itself. The maximum of the show would be to witness an eruption of the volcano from Malta but it is not always easy to coordinate the travel times to reach the right places with the times of the eruptions. Maybe, while you are on the road, the ash itself produced by the eruption will create a cloud that will cover the fire and when you arrive you won’t see anything.
Finally, it depends on the patience and the time you have. Finding yourself in Malta, an island rich in history and art, museums and natural spectacles, as well as beaches … will you have enough time to dedicate to the long and complex search for the ideal view of Etna? If the answer is yes, here are some tips to follow.
How will you see Etna from Malta?
When the view of the horizon is clear, Etna seen from Malta appears as a small dark rock (or white, if it is snow-covered) with a very long linear base. The “base” is the peaks of the Iblei Mountains flattened by the perspective together with the southern coast of Sicily. The summit of the high volcano, which today exceeds 3400 meters, emerges only at its final tip and for this reason it appears as a hunched islet. In order to admire it at its best, you have to zoom in on the “rock” which will then reveal the typical shapes of the summit of our mountain. Good photographers know how to include the northern coasts of Malta in the zoom, so that Etna – in perspective – appears very large and dominant over the houses. At night, during eruptions, you can just make out a fiery red dot in the distance which with the zoom can be transformed into a spectacular vision.
Where can you see it from?
Photographer Cilia revealed “I photographed Etna in the morning from the roof of a boutique hotel in Senglea. The hotel, called ‘The Snop House’, is located in the center of Senglea, and I realized that from its roof Etna rose exactly behind Fort St Angel.”
Even from the suggestive Saint Paul’s Bay it is possible to have a clear view of the top of Etna, if the sea is not covered by wandering mists. You can also see it from behind the sanctuary of Mellieha and from Targa Gap in Mosta. And there is certainly no shortage of “sighting” points on the island of Gozo (for example Rabat, or Nadur), the northernmost of the Maltese archipelago.
When can you see Etna from Malta?
The best period to have excellent visibility on the Mediterranean is in winter, between the months of January and March. In this season, in fact, the cold winds clean the air from the mists and African clouds, making the horizon clear. Obviously, you will have an excellent view of Etna from Malta when it is erupting and throwing columns of ash (during the day) and fountains of lava (at night) that reach very high altitudes. During some particularly violent eruptions, Etna has been photographed from the island of Gozo with extraordinary effects (in this case by the photographer George Carl Camilleri – LINK HERE ).
Conclusion …
In short: can you see Etna from Malta? Yes. Can you photograph it? Of course, but not with a simple cell phone, you need a camera with a powerful zoom. Why should I believe that all this is not a fake? Well, you simply need to take the cableway to the top of Etna, on a sunny and clear day, and turn towards the south. In the middle of the glittering expanse of the sea, from an altitude of 3000 meters, you will already see the archipelago of the Maltese islands before you. And if Malta can be seen from Etna… certainly Etna can be seen from Malta.