Etna — The Fire-Breathing Mountain

Mount Etna (Etna, Sicilian: Mungibeddu, 3,357 m) is Europe's highest and most active volcano — and the undisputed symbol of Sicily. The "mountain of all mountains" is not an abstract force of nature, but a living part of everyday life: For the people of Catania, Etna is simply "a Muntagna" (the mountain), both a blessing and a threat. Its eruptions provide the slopes with mineral-rich soil where Sicily's best wines, pistachios, and oranges thrive — and can send lava flows threatening villages at any moment.

Experiencing Etna: The most common access is the south side from Nicolosi (Rifugio Sapienza, 1,910 m). From there, the Funivia dell'Etna (cable car, €36 return) takes you up to 2,500 m, where off-road buses (€30) continue to about 2,900 m. From there, it's on foot to the summit craters — the last 400 meters in altitude are only allowed with a certified mountain guide (mandatory above 2,900 m, about €50 per person including helmet and hiking poles). The view into the steaming craters, fumaroles, and cooled lava flows is an unforgettable experience.

The north side (from Piano Provenzana, 1,800 m, accessible from Linguaglossa) is quieter and wilder — here you drive through dense birch forests and over cooled lava fields. Off-road tours (from €60) take visitors to the craters on the north side. In winter (December–March), Etna transforms into a ski resort — two small stations on the south and north sides offer slopes with the most absurd panorama in Europe: skiing on an active volcano with views of the Mediterranean Sea 30 km away.

The Etna wines are currently experiencing a boom: The volcanic soils at 600–1,000 m altitude produce mineral-rich, elegant red and white wines from indigenous grape varieties (Nerello Mascalese, Carricante) that delight international critics. Wineries like Benanti, Planeta, Tenuta delle Terre Nere, and Passopisciaro offer tastings — an Etna wine tour is the culinary highlight of the east coast.