ETNA AND ITS TERRITORY
The history, the evolution and the flora of Etna
The history and evolution of Etna
Mount Etna’s History
"Smoky Etna, column of the sky, perennial nurse of shining snow, among whose secrets grow the purest sources of horrid fire" - With these verses Pindar, in the fifth century BC, expressed his admiration and his profound respect for that unfathomable phenomenon of...
The beginning, the tholeiitic period
Mount Etna is located in a geologically complex area. Its geo-dynamic outline is dominated by subduction of the African foreland and the Ionian oceanic crust under the Apennine chain. According to classic thought and the most accepted theory, Etna is located on the...
Growth, the alkaline period
Mount Etna grow through a succession of volcanic structures. Each of these formed apparatuses signified the birth of a real volcano. Following tens or thousands of eruptions it grew, ceased its activity and became eroded and destroyed by exogenous agents. Its remains...
The modern period and present day
The products ejected after the formation of the caldera on the plain form the “modern Mongibello” and include all the historical flows around Etna and the current summit craters. The products from the recent Mongibello were subject to a general transition in the most...
Origin of the valley “Valle del Bove”
Your first impression when you see Etna by plane or looking at a plastic scale model is that it is a perfect volcanic cone with a huge piece the size of an entire slope missing, as if a huge dessert knife took away the entire eastern side of this huge mountain. What...
The flora of Etna
General thoughts on the Etna’s flora
Mount Etna presents rich, various flora which is distributed in relation to altitude and slope exposure. The area is a unique spectacle of nature where vegetation is characterised by rocky coastline with garigue and brushwood, by caducous evergreen forests and the...
Low mediterranean plain
This vegetation plain contains plenty of species influenced by man: the landscape is mainly dominated by citrus groves, vineyards, olive groves, almond groves, pistachio groves and fruit trees. This area also hosts numerous, important natural species, based on their...
Mountainous mediterranean plain
At a height of 1,000 to 1,500 metres, vegetation is characterised by groves of Corsican Pine (Pinus Laricio), Silver Birch (Betula Aetnensis), Beech (Fagus Selvatica) and Poplar (Populus Tremula). The same climatic zone of oak trees includes widespread Chestnut groves...
High mediterranean plain
This plain, located on the edge of the tree vegetation and circa 2,400 metres high, forms the most significant and expressive landscape on the high mountainous area of Etna. Etna Milk Vetch (Astragulus Siculus) particularly dominates this environment, which changes...
OUR EXCURSIONS
Exceptional tours for all levels, among the wonders of the Etna Volcano
Trek from North Etna to the Summit Craters with 4×4 vehicles (roundtrip)
Excursion to the 2002 crater and “Cave of Raspberries”
