Etna: An Unforgettable Shorex
When you arrive at Catania Cruise Port, even before being greeted by the warmth of the local staff, your gaze is drawn upwards by the majestic figure of the Etna volcano, which almost seems to embrace and protect the city with its soft slopes.
Shore excursion among the most preferred by all cruise passengers, Etna is an unforgettable must see of the South-Eastern Sicily, an opportunity to stay in contact with nature in a multifaceted landscape that changes its face with the seasons of the year.
The people of Catania call the Etna “’A Muntagna”, the mountain par excellence. Authoritarian and elegant like a beautiful queen, it has accompanied this part of Sicily for millennia. In winter the snow covers it all with a soft white blanket, transforming it into a real ski slope. In summer, however, it returns to the black color of lava and ashes, dressing in red when, at night, it wants to give a show. As often happens now: with about 50 paroxysmal episodes that have affected the south-east crater since 16 February 2021, Etna has even increased its height, reaching 3,357 meters and confirming its title as the highest active volcano in the Eurasia region.
Contrary to what one might imagine, Etna is not a volcano like many others, arid, monochrome and lifeless. It hosts indeed a rainbow of landscapes: from the green of the woods, to the blue of the forget-me-nots and to the delicate scent of the violets of the Etna Natural Park, it follows the spectacle of the rural terraces used for the cultivation of vineyards, orchards and citrus groves, whose products have acquired a particular aroma thanks to the volcanic soil. Farther south, the Caves, tortuous tunnels formed due to the flow of lava, offer stories of all sorts: the best known are the Grotta del Gelo (Frost Cave), so-called for being an inexhaustible reserve of ice; the Grotta dei Lamponi (Raspberry Cave), whose entrance is covered with these plants; the Grotta dei Ladri (Cave of Thieves), hidden in a birch forest, an historical and legendary refuge for brigands.
Declared by Unesco World Heritage Site since June 21st, 2013, for being one of the most emblematic and active volcano in the world, ‘a Muntagna is everyone’s treasure, to be discovered with guided excursions by trekking, cable car and jeep. Only those who reach the top experience the feeling of literally being on cloud nine, of seeing the sun rise under their feet and getting a second wind. From up there you can discover the whole island of Sicily with its seas, Taormina’s city and even the western tip of Calabria!
Ready for adventure?
