MOUNT ETNA
Located on the East coast of Sicily, Mount Etna is the tallest active volcano in Europe. It was calm while we were there, but it has erupted recently and it is well known for being rather a volatile volcano. At one time, the volcano was in the sea off Sicily, but over the centuries eruptions filled in the sea between the volcano and the island, until it became what we know today as Mount Etna. The way that it was formed means that the coastal landscapes of Sicily are strange and beautiful - we all agreed the coastline was unlike anywhere else we've ever been to in Europe. You can drive almost to the top of Mount Etna, where there is a large car park with souvenir shops and restaurants. There is a cable car if you want to go to see the crater, although make sure to wear warm clothes as there was snow at the top when we visited. There are some smaller craters on the sides as well that you can walk up to more easily - some have a distinctive red colour like the one in the photo. The landscape is bizarre - black and crumbling - and as you drive up and down the volcano you can spot lava flows from recent eruptions. FIND OUT MORE |