Mount Etna

A UNESCO site since 2013, it is also called Mongibello, from the Arabic-Latin mons gibel, ‘the double mountain’. The inhabitants call Mount Etna “a’ muntagna” and is renowned for its exceptional level of volcanic activity. Its notoriety, scientific importance and cultural and educational value are of global importance. It is located on the eastern coast of Sicily and is the highest active volcano in Europe, one of the most active in the world. Thanks to 2700 years of eruptive activity, the maximum height of the volcanic cone today exceeds 3300 meters above sea level over approximately 45 km of base diameter. These dimensions make it the most imposing terrestrial volcano in Europe and the entire Mediterranean area. Etna is also one of the most studied and monitored volcanoes in the world and  has a global scientific and cultural importance, for volcanology, geophysics and other earth sciences.

According to the myth, the activity of ash and lava eruptions of the volcano would be the fiery ‘breath’ of the giant Enceladus, defeated by Athena and trapped for eternity in an underground prison under Mount Etna, and earthquakes would be caused by its twisting between the chains.