Etna Attractions 
Etna (3,343m/11,032ft), also called "Mongibello" (from the Italian "monte" and the Arabic "giabal" = mountain) lies in the east of the island of Sicily - close to the coast and northwest of Catania. It is Europe's largest active volcano and after the Alpine peaks the highest mountain in Italy. The area has been designated as a National Park. Etna is one of the youngest geological features in Sicily and rises in the form of a truncated cone probably where an arm of the sea existed in Tertiary times. The almost circular base is 40km/25mi in diameter and 165km/102mi in circumference.
The upper slopes have only a meagre cover of vegetation; the porous rock allows water to sink down rapidly to lower levels, where it meets an impervious bed of rocks and emerges in many places as springs. Oranges and lemons are grown up to about 500m/1,650ft, olives and vines to 1,300m/4,290ft. Above this are forest trees and macchia up to 2,100m/6,930ft, sometimes with recent lava flows cutting through them. The summit region up to the snow line is a dull black wasteland glistening in the sun.
Eruptions
There are more than one hundred known eruptions of Etna. The volcanic vents, more than 260 in number, are mostly on the flanks of the mountain. Major activity occurs at intervals of four to twelve years (the most recent eruption was in 1992).
Solar power-station
On the south slope of Etna, where the sun shines for 3,000 hours in a year, stands the solar power-station "Eurhelios" (surface 6,000 sq.m/7,176 sq.yd).
The upper slopes have only a meagre cover of vegetation; the porous rock allows water to sink down rapidly to lower levels, where it meets an impervious bed of rocks and emerges in many places as springs. Oranges and lemons are grown up to about 500m/1,650ft, olives and vines to 1,300m/4,290ft. Above this are forest trees and macchia up to 2,100m/6,930ft, sometimes with recent lava flows cutting through them. The summit region up to the snow line is a dull black wasteland glistening in the sun.
Eruptions
There are more than one hundred known eruptions of Etna. The volcanic vents, more than 260 in number, are mostly on the flanks of the mountain. Major activity occurs at intervals of four to twelve years (the most recent eruption was in 1992).
Solar power-station
On the south slope of Etna, where the sun shines for 3,000 hours in a year, stands the solar power-station "Eurhelios" (surface 6,000 sq.m/7,176 sq.yd).
Crater
The crater of Etna, which is filled with gases, is always changing its shape by eruptions. It is impossible to get very close to the crater. As Etna is never really inactive the area is declared dangerous to visitors; the climb leads through a rugged moonlike landscape.
Etna Driving Tour
A drive round Etna, starting from Catania (144km/89mi, also possible by rail), is very rewarding. The road runs via Misterbianco (213m/703ft; pop. 15,000), Paternò (225m/743ft; pop. 46,500) with a castle built by Roger I in 1073 (rebuilt in the 14th century; well-preserved interior), towering above the town, to Adrano (588m/1,940ft; pop. 34,000), beautifully situated on a lava plateau, with a Norman castle containing an Archeological Museum and the convent of Santa Lucia, 15th-17th century.
About 9km/5.5mi southwest of Adrano, picturesquely situated on a steep hill above the Simeto valley, with a magnificent view of Etna, is the little town of Centuripe (730m/2,409ft; pop. 6750), formerly Centorbi, with the so-called Castello di Corradino (first century B.C.). The Archeological Museum contains finds from the ancient Siculan town of Centuripae which rose to importance in the late Hellenistic-Roman period and was destroyed by Frederick II in 1233 (interesting the Hellenistic-Roman house "Contrada panneria", with paintings of the second-first centuries B.C.).
From Adrano the road continues via Bronte (760m/2,508ft; pop. 20,000), Maletto (960m/3,168ft; old castle), Randazzo and Linguaglossa (600m/1,980ft; pop. 4,500) to Fiumefreddo (62m/205ft). Then back to Catania on the motorway A18 or S.S.114.
About 9km/5.5mi southwest of Adrano, picturesquely situated on a steep hill above the Simeto valley, with a magnificent view of Etna, is the little town of Centuripe (730m/2,409ft; pop. 6750), formerly Centorbi, with the so-called Castello di Corradino (first century B.C.). The Archeological Museum contains finds from the ancient Siculan town of Centuripae which rose to importance in the late Hellenistic-Roman period and was destroyed by Frederick II in 1233 (interesting the Hellenistic-Roman house "Contrada panneria", with paintings of the second-first centuries B.C.).
From Adrano the road continues via Bronte (760m/2,508ft; pop. 20,000), Maletto (960m/3,168ft; old castle), Randazzo and Linguaglossa (600m/1,980ft; pop. 4,500) to Fiumefreddo (62m/205ft). Then back to Catania on the motorway A18 or S.S.114.
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Valle del Bove
Southeast of the former observatory is the beginning of the Valle del Bove (Valley of the Ox), a black and desolate chasm (5km/3mi wide) surrounded on three sides by rock walls 600- 1,200m/1,980-3,960ft high. Experienced climbers can go down (with guide) through the Valle del Bove to Zafferanda Etnea (600m/1,980ft).
