Five things to do if you want to climb Mount Etna, from tasting excellent wines, to cross-country skiing, enter the Etna caves, the butterfly house or discover the foliage in autumn.
THEEtna it is the largest active volcano in Europe, but its interest is not only linked to spectacular eruptions, incandescent lava flows and craters of various sizes.
Here indeed 5 things to see on and around Etna.
The snow of Etna
In 2016, the ski resorts on the north side of Etna were the last to close: it was May. This year the situation seems to be replicated: in January 2016, above 600 meters, there are 2 meters of snow and ski enthusiasts come from all over Europe.
On Etna you can go skiing, ski mountaineering, snowboard and also cross-country skiing.
Sea-view slopes, excellent food and warm hospitality: skiing on Etna has a series of very special advantages, don't you think?
The foliage, the autumn of Etna
Il foliage phenomenon only on the northeastern coast of the United States? Of course not!
From the end of August, you can dive into the orange, gold, bronze and purple colors of the trees that cover the surroundings and the lower part of the Sicilian volcano.
Between spots of carob trees, almond trees, pistachios and hazelnut groves you will climb up to 1000 meters, where you will meet oaks, downy oaks, chestnuts and so on.
Without forgetting the Etna birch that some even consider an exclusive species of Etna.
The wine of Etna
Of note among the colors of the foliage on Etna, there is certainly that of the vineyards that stretch out on its slopes: kilometers of vineyards planted with Frappato, Nero d'Avola, Nerello Mascalese e Nerello Cappuccio.
But it is not only the red wine vines that adorn the slopes of Etna: there are also excellent whites originating from Carricante and Minnella vines, for example.
You can choose to do a little tour by car and stop in some cellar to taste or, and it is our advice, take advantage of Circumetnea Railway and his Etna train as it is called. The train, with trained guides, will take you among the vineyards and near the cellars: moving safely among the vineyards, and the glasses of wine, of Etna is really easy.
The caves of Etna
Etna is spectacular on the surface when its already mentioned lava flows illuminate the Sicilian sky, but as often happens, even in depth, this giant hides small jewels.
Inside, in fact, kilometers and kilometers of tunnels, rooms and tunnels run after each other and overlap. These are caves that are the joy of professional speleologists, but which can also fascinate visitors with no specific knowledge.
Among the best known, the Frost cave, a cave in which the temperature is always freezing and which is considered the southernmost glacier in Europe.
Or the Cave of the Raspberries or that Three levels also called Bats cave originated in 1792: an excursion to a cave is really a bit of a journey into our past.
A trip to be carried out always with the support of specialist guides, of course.
The butterflies of Etna
At the foot of Etna, in the Monte Serra Park, near the town of Viagrande (Catania), there is the Butterfly House where you can visit a tropical greenhouse that is now the home of colorful butterflies: red, orange, black, the butterflies that live here, on the slopes of Etna, flutter free, alighting on beautiful flowers and lush tropical plants.
A charm for children but not only.
You will see and discover the history and characteristics of tropical butterflies but also of the Aurora of Etna, a local butterfly that they are studying and trying to protect right here because its existence is in danger due to the changes that the natural environment is undergoing. The park opens in spring.
In short, Etna is truly the mountain of desires for a Sicilian holiday.
