Mount Etna is the largest and most active volcano in all of Europe. It sits on the Ionian coast in Eastern Sicily, nestled between Catania and Taormina.
When you’re ready to climb off the mountain, head back to the much warmer Bisacquino.
-
- On the drive from Taormina to Mount Enta
-
- The Ionian Sea near Taormina
-
- The volcano in the distance
-
- An interesting looking church in a small village near Etna
-
- A neat looking village we drove through
-
- Another roundabout
-
- Hit the roundabout, and then go left to Etna. Those Europeans sure love their roundabouts!
-
- Elevation is going up…
-
- The terrain surrounding the road is starting to change
-
- Parked on the side of the volcano 2/3rd the way up… about 2000 meters from sea level (~6,500 ft)
-
- Yup, we’re taking a cable car up the side of the most active volcano in all of Europe…
-
- Looking down towards the base of the cable cars….
-
- Uhh… what happens if this volcano erupts when we’re in the cable car? I think I’m going to pee my pants!
-
- Out of the cable car and walking around….
-
- I have to admit, this is the coolest police car I’ve ever seen!
-
- Looking down the volcano towards the land below
-
- See that goofy looking white truck? It took us up even further after the cable car ended.
-
- We trying to take it all in
-
- Not much vegetation up here
-
- The clouds are now eye-level
-
- That’s the summit up there
-
- The surface
-
- Snow!
-
- Trekking through the snow…. Gabs in front wearing one of the giant coats we rented. It was a little windy and cold…
-
- Some hole in the ground with lots of steam coming out
-
- Catania is wayyyy out there, somewhere
-
- Trying not to freeze!
-
- So coooold!
-
- The wind was brutal. Pro tip: Don’t go up almost 3,000 meters in elevation without the proper jeans and jacket. Some people who went up when we did learned the hard way.
-
- Heading back down
-
- Typical Sicilian scene in a small town near the mountain: Old men sitting together on a bench.
-
- Driving through Enna
-
- A church in Caltanissetta where we found a hotel for the night
-
- Walking down a Caltanissettan street
-
- The End!