Mt. Etna

Mt Etna is the tallest, active volcano in Europe. When you visit the top, at nearly 10,900 feet the cold and the wind and the views is all an experience that will stay with you for some time.

We have visited the top, and great experience, and we have been in towns near by and seen the lava shooting into the sky. What a sight.

There are two main approaches to Mt. Etna. From the south, from the town of Nicolosi follow the signs that say Etna Sud hearding towards Rifugio Sapienza and the cable car station. There is an organized excursion that leaves from Rifugio Sapienza to the top, it takes about two hours.

To the right, our small groups walks along one of the paths through the baren landscape of Etna.

There are also excersions where a bus will pick you up from the main towns and then take you up to the base where you can get the clothing you need and then ride one of the tractor buses up to the top.

From the north, as we did on our visit, from the town of Linguaglossa take the road to Piano Provenzana. There are four week drive or tractor buses that take you up to the top. At the station you can obtain a jacket and a pair of boots. At first we said we did not need them. But wisely they told us, you do not know what it is like up there. We did not.

At the top, where you are free to walk about, the wind at 10,000 feet is part of the jet stream. At one point we were not sure we could actually stand. And the little stones from the lava/sand seem to get in your boots no matter what you wear.

The views are incredible. When you put your hand to grond we felt the heat. And if you stuck your finger into the sand, in some cases steam would be released. The colours are intense.

The image to the right shows the views of the sides of Etna with steam rising up. It was all stunning to see. No railings, no pathed paths, just baren beauty.

Allow yourself the better part of the day to account for the drive up to the camp and then some time to walk about at the top.

 

 

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