The daily life of those who live at the foot of Mount Etna offers a unique experience. For those who inhabit the towns around Etna, the volcano becomes almost familiar, as described by the author of “The Day of the Owl” and “Todo modo” (One Way or Another). Mount Etna is likened to a gigantic domestic cat that snores peacefully but occasionally wakes up with a yawn, lazily stretching. With a distracted strike of its paw, it covers one valley after another, erasing villages, vineyards, and gardens. The three names by which it is known: Etna, Mongibello, and the third as ‘a Muntagna’ (Mountain in Sicilian).
In the surroundings of Sant’Alfio we find the oldest and largest chestnut trees in Italy, like the “Hundred Horse Chestnut,” while on the Linguaglossa side, first extends a superb oak forest and then a majestic forest of larch pines, eventually giving way to birches, which lend a Nordic landscape to Etna, along with beech trees.
In Nicolosi and Zafferana, brooms reach sizes of trees, emitting an enveloping fragrance in spring. Moreover, the Astragalus Siculus begins to recolonize the desert where the lava is less compact, recreating a green landscape in just 80 years since the last eruption.
In the daily life, Etna reveals itself through volcanic ashes that prevent aircrafts from flying and turn roads into skating rinks. However, like all volcanoes, Mount Etna is also a source of life. Climbing towards the craters, roads traverse picturesque landscapes of vegetable gardens and vineyards, leading to beech trees, chestnuts, and birches, surprising those who usually associate them with the Far North.
Excursions on Etna with Dream Island
The Dream Island Etna tour offers a unique opportunity to explore this earthly paradise, traversing landscapes occasionally interrupted by infernal scenarios that inspired the Ligurian writer Edmondo De Amicis.
To immerse yourself in the daily life of those who live at the foot of Mount Etna, you have a wide choice of Etna towns to visit. You can visit the medieval churches of Randazzo, explore the villas and gardens of Zafferana and Nicolosi, and admire the Norman castle of Adrano with its rich archaeological museum. In Maniace, the medieval abbey of Santa Maria, transformed into a residence by King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, offers a breathtaking view of Mount Etna. On the Bronte side, you can savor the finest pistachios in Italy, while in the direction of the Ionian Sea, you can find quality hazelnuts and olives. The local varieties of apples, with names like “ice apple” (mela gelato), “rolling apple” (mela rotolo) and “Cola apple” (mela Cola), add a special touch to this culinary experience.
The excursion on Mount Etna is an unforgettable experience, with roads zigzagging through vegetable gardens and vineyards, leading among beech trees, chestnuts, and birches. Along the way, hikers can admire magnificent ancient chestnut trees and the tall pine forests of Linguaglossa. The landscape is enriched by the presence of brooms, which emit an enveloping fragrance during spring.
We recommend our Etna and Alcantara Gorges Excursion, a comprehensive experience discovering Mount Etna and the surrounding Etna territories, with particular attention to the wonderful Alcantara Gorges. Do not hesitate to contact us if you are ready to live this experience!
