The Liberation Day on Mt Etna

Posted on 20/04/2026 (20/04/2026) by Grazia Musumeci

In a few days, we will celebrate April 25th, which for many Italians is now simply “picnic day” but which should actually remind us of something very important: liberation from nazism! On this date in 1945, the Northern Italy National Liberation Committee (CLNAI) proclaimed a general uprising throughout all territories still occupied by the Nazis […]

That fishmonger lost on Etna: Passopisciaro

Posted on 06/04/2026 by Grazia Musumeci

Passopisciaro (fishmonger’s pass) is a funny name. And that’s the name of one of the seven hamlets in the municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia, on the northern slope of Mount Etna, the last frontier of the district of Catania before entering Messina area. Why do we focus on this village, instead of exploring more touristy […]

Three Etna locations from where you won’t see Etna

Posted on 23/03/2026 (23/03/2026) by Grazia Musumeci

There are places in Sicily where all tourists want to go. Famous, beautiful locations, with dreamy sea views or spectacular lava landscapes. Who wouldn’t pay a fortune for a vacation in Aci Trezza or at Rifugio Sapienza on Mount Etna? Because here lies the magic, at the foot of the great volcano, which, however, from […]

When magma is … “knocking”

Posted on 16/03/2026 by Grazia Musumeci

Volcano enthusiasts know this by now. Most eruptions are announced well in advance, with signals that today, thanks to sophisticated geovolcanology research techniques, are soon intercepted. But even without much technology, the phenomenon of “magma knocking” is a clear sign that something inside a volcano is changing. Of course, the terms are much more technical […]

Earthquake in Catania: updates

Posted on 04/03/2026 by Grazia Musumeci

The earthquake that this morning around 7:00 a.m. literally woke up the entire district of Catania (as well as some areas in the provinces of Messina and Syracuse) falls within the “average” range of typical Etna earthquakes. The strength always settles below 5 on the Richter scale (in this case 4.5), and the dynamics are […]