volcano Archives

Sicily by Bike: the tourist destination of 2025

Posted on 13/01/2025 by Grazia Musumeci

One of the most authoritative voices on tourism, the New York Times, includes Sicily among the 52 unmissable destinations of 2025. And it includes it following the path of a new and beautiful route, especially for fans of extreme ecological walks: Sicily Divide, Sicily by bike. This route which, as the name suggests, “divides” the […]

Five ideas for starting New Year on Mt Etna

Posted on 06/01/2025 by Grazia Musumeci

After having given the usual resounding welcome to the new year, we find ourselves in the first week of January already planning the near future. Whether you are a permanent resident or a tourist, when you have the privilege of living at the foot of a volcano like Etna all your choices will also revolve […]

Rituals for Good Luck: from burning branches to fireworks

Posted on 30/12/2024 by Grazia Musumeci

In a short time, the first hour of the New Year will strike, with the twelve strokes of midnight, and everyone – wherever we are, whatever our beliefs – will celebrate this event with lights, torches, fires and “firecrackers”. There’s no point in pretending… fire is fascinating. And it has always fascinated precisely because of […]

Volcanoes and mandarins: the Holy Cribs of Etna

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

The making of nativity scene (Holy Crib) is a very ancient tradition in Sicily. One of the classic traditions that has remained most alive, ever, even resisting the “invasion” of Santa Claus and the famous Christmas tree. Once upon a time, for Sicilians, the Holy Crib was the center of the Christmas celebration – as […]

Fire celebration on Etna: St Barbara

Posted on 02/12/2024 (20/12/2024) 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 […]