The summit of Etna consists of four active craters: the Central Crater (the oldest of the summit craters), the Bocca Nuova (formed in 1968), the North-East Crater (formed in 1911) and the South-East Crater (the youngest, formed in 1971), which has been the most active in recent decades — producing spectacular lava fountains and strombolian eruptions audible from kilometres away.

Myths and Legends of Mount Etna

Few mountains in the world have inspired as much myth and legend as Etna. Homer, Virgil, Horace and Ovid all referenced the volcano in their works. Here are the most famous stories associated with it.

The Legend of Vulcan

According to Roman mythology, the god Vulcan quarrelled with Jupiter and was hurled from Mount Olympus. When he awoke, he found himself on a beautiful island — Sicily — and made it his home. From that day on, Vulcan is said to have worked his forge beneath Etna, and the eruptions of the volcano are the fire and sparks of his smithy.

The Myth of Typhon

The giant Typhon dared to challenge the gods of Olympus. Jupiter punished him by burying him beneath Sicily: his feet under Trapani, his right arm under Messina, his left arm under Syracuse — and his head directly beneath Etna. Every time Typhon grows restless, the earth trembles and the volcano erupts.

Ulysses and Polyphemus

On his journey home from Troy, Ulysses encountered Polyphemus, the one-eyed Cyclops who dominated the Ionian coast. After blinding the giant with a sharpened stake, Ulysses and his men escaped hidden beneath the sheep. In rage, Polyphemus hurled enormous boulders into the sea — which became the famous Faraglioni rocks visible today at Aci Trezza.

Aci and Galatea

Aci was a young shepherd who lived on the slopes of Etna and was loved by the sea nymph Galatea. A jealous Cyclops crushed him with a boulder. The gods, moved by Galatea's grief, transformed Aci's body into a river of fresh water springing from the volcano's slopes — giving name to the towns of the Aci Riviera along the Ionian coast.

Origins and Geology of Mount Etna

Some 500,000 years ago, the area where Etna now stands was occupied by a large gulf opening onto the Ionian Sea. After thousands of years of submarine eruptions, the first subaerial volcanoes emerged — the most significant being Calanna, now extinct, near Zafferana Etnea.

When Calanna's activity ceased around 80,000 years ago, the violent eruptions of Trifoglietto I and II began. Approximately 64,000 years ago, a series of devastating explosions caused the collapse of their craters, creating the spectacular Valle del Bove — an enormous volcanic caldera more than 5 km wide that remains one of the most dramatic landscapes on the volcano.

Around 34,000 years ago, eruptive activity resumed with a new vent to the west of the previous volcanoes, giving birth to Mongibello — the name still used in Sicilian dialect for Etna. The vast quantity of lava produced by Mongibello welded the volcano to the eastern coast of Sicily. Today, Etna is characterised by frequent and relatively moderate eruptions from both its summit craters and its lateral vents.

Historic and Modern Eruptions

Etna's eruption history is divided into two periods: "ancient eruptions" (135 recorded events, though many smaller ones likely went unrecorded) and "modern eruptions". Among the most significant ancient eruptions were those of 396 BC — which reached the sea — and those of 1329, 1381 and 1669.

The 1669 eruption was the watershed between the two periods. Beginning on 11 March 1669, a fracture opened from the town of Nicolosi all the way to the central crater, forming the Monti Rossi cones and sending a river of lava that buried part of Catania and reached the sea.

The most catastrophic modern eruption was that of 1928, which completely destroyed the town of Mascali. In 1971, an eruption buried the old astronomical observatory and part of the cable car — and simultaneously created the South-East Crater, which has since become the most active of Etna's summit vents, famous for its spectacular lava fountains visible from Taormina on clear nights.

Morphology and Landscape Zones

The territory of Etna is divided into distinct zones by altitude and character. The lower slopes (up to 1,000 metres) on the south and east sides are cultivated and densely populated. From 1,000 metres upwards the landscape becomes increasingly wild, dominated on the western side by ancient lava fields known as sciare — particularly striking in the area around Bronte. The northern side is gentler, covered by forests above Linguaglossa. The eastern side is dominated by the dramatic Valle del Bove, its edges fringed by dense woodland.

Flora

The vegetation of Etna changes dramatically with altitude, creating a series of distinct plant communities from the coast to the summit.

• 0–500 m: Citrus groves and Mediterranean scrub (mastic, wild olive, carob).
• 600–1,000 m: Vineyards, olive trees, almond trees, pistachio (western slopes) and hazelnut groves (north-east). Holm oak forests survive in fragments.
• 1,000–1,500 m: Downy oak woods and chestnut forests, with stands of Pinus laricio — the Etna black pine — forming spectacular forests at Linguaglossa and Serra La Nave.
• 1,500–2,000 m: Beech woods and further Pinus laricio stands. On the eastern slopes, the endemic Betula aetnensis (Etna birch) and Genista aetnensis (Etna broom) appear.
• 2,500–3,000 m: Only the hardiest species survive, such as Rumex scutatus fo. aetnensis.
• Above 3,000 m: Volcanic desert — continuous eruptive activity prevents any plant life.

Fauna

Centuries of deforestation, road-building and hunting have eliminated several species that once inhabited Etna — including the fallow deer, roe deer, wolf, wild boar, vulture and griffon. Among the animals still present today are the porcupine, fox, wildcat, stone marten, wild rabbit, hare, weasel, hedgehog and dormouse.

Birdlife is particularly rich, especially raptors: diurnal species include the sparrowhawk, buzzard, kestrel, peregrine falcon and golden eagle; among nocturnal birds, the barn owl, Eurasian scops owl and tawny owl. The Gurrida Lake — the only body of water on the mountain — attracts grey herons, ducks and other water birds. The woodland edges are home to jays, woodpigeons, rock partridges and a variety of songbirds.

Etna in Winter

Above 1,000 metres, snow covers Etna from autumn through to late spring — sometimes persisting until early summer. The volcano has two ski areas, each with a remarkable feature: you can ski on volcanic snow while looking out over the sea.

• Rifugio Sapienza (south side, Nicolosi): Overlooking the Gulf of Catania and the Simeto Valley. The ski runs were partially damaged by the 2001 eruption, which destroyed the upper cable car station passing just metres from the refuge.
• Piano Provenzana (north side, Linguaglossa): With views stretching to Taormina and the Calabrian coast. The slopes here were affected by the 2002 autumn eruption.

ETNA SOUTH - RIFUGIO SAPIENZA

Rifugio Sapienza (1,923 m) is the main tourist hub on the southern side of Etna and the departure point for the cable car to the summit area. It is easily reached from Taormina by car in around one hour.

From Taormina, take the A18 motorway towards Catania, exit at Giarre, then follow the road through Santa Venerina and Zafferana Etnea, continuing to follow signs for Etna.

ETNA NORTH - PIANO PROVENZANA

Piano Provenzana (1,800 m) is the northern access point to Etna and the departure point used by most guided tours departing from Taormina — as it is significantly closer (approximately 60–75 minutes by road).

From Taormina, take the A18 motorway towards Messina, exit at Fiumefreddo, then follow the signs through Linguaglossa to Piano Provenzana.

This is the access point used on all half-day, full-day and sunset guided tours departing from Taormina and Giardini Naxos. The landscape at Piano Provenzana — marked by the dramatic lava flows of the 2002 eruption — is one of the most striking on the entire volcano.