excursion Archives

Fire celebration on Etna: St Barbara

Posted on 02/12/2024 (23/02/2025) by Grazia Musumeci

The feast of St. Barbara is important for the Etna territory because it is linked to fire, as is the memory of another saint (connected to light) Lucia. And although the patron saint of the Catania territory, and therefore also of the volcano, is actually St Agatha, St Barbara is addressed when asking for protection […]

Volcanoes: Gates of Hell

Posted on 04/11/2024 (23/02/2025) by Grazia Musumeci

Are volcanoes the gates of hell? For many centuries, this is how people and popular belief have considered them. A natural fear, given by the view of a mountain capable of spitting fire from every crack. If you go back to study the mythology and history of the Mediterranean, you will find many myths linked […]

The “Fire October” at Piano Provenzana

Posted on 27/10/2024 (23/02/2025) by Grazia Musumeci

The end of October is always a special moment on Mount Etna. Not only because the autumn season gives its best, with unique colours and scents, but also because it celebrates an important anniversary. That of the “perfect eruption”. This eruption that occurred in October 2002 was among the most powerful ever recorded on the […]

Zafferana Etnea

Posted on 14/10/2024 (23/02/2025) by Grazia Musumeci

Zafferana Etnea is “the Gateway to Etna”. This town of just over 9,000 inhabitants, located 600 meters above sea level on the eastern slopes of the volcano, is in fact the starting point for almost all excursions to Mount Etna. And it is also the place from which you can admire the most spectacular eruptions. […]

The Alcantara Gorges: any connection to Mt Etna?

Posted on 16/09/2024 (23/02/2025) by Grazia Musumeci

The Alcantara River Gorges are one of the most famous tourist attractions in eastern Sicily. Huge walls of lava that fall sheer over the course of a restless, lively river, with a funny Arabic name (al-qantarah actually means “the bridge”) . The river crosses a valley with a thousand historical faces, at the end of […]