How to live an adventure vacation in the south of Italy

[Vew of Mt. Etna in Sicily]

Are you an adventure traveller?

Well, the best adventure trips you can do here in Sicily is to visit volcano Etna.

To spend in the best way your time you should book your accommodation in a Bred and Breakfast in Nicolosi or in Linguaglossa, two small and characteristic villages on Etna. You can reach Linguaglossa taking A 18 Catania-Messina Highway and getting out at tollbooth of Fiumefreddo. Now you have to follow road signs to Linguaglossa.

If you decide to go to Nicolosi, the only thing you have to do is going to north Catania and follow the road signs to Nicolosi, that is very near.

The other step consist to contact an excursionist guide that will take you on the higher crater of Europe, such a little Tibet in Mediterranean sea.

But don’t forget to take with you your mountain equipment: hiking trousers and shoes, thermal undershirt, hiking hose and jacket, considering you want to enjoy this show in winter, a very characteristics time to visit Etna, when the crater is full of snow. But the summer is a good time too, the only difference is a easier hike because the absence of snow and higher temperature.

[View of the City of Catania from the Summit Craters]

-Volcano Etna has many woods with hidden trails, and they are magical places for your hiking. But you should be careful: during your hiking you have to hear what your guide tell you about the place for your safety.

You can hike on the eruption places and admire that wild scenario. So wild that some scientists have made astronomical experiment useful for moon’s studies because the characteristics of Etna soil are similar to Lunar soil. The eruption places are in the higher points of Nicolosi, Linguaglossa, Belpasso and Zafferana, where you can admire the wonderful Bove Valley, a valley full of lava.

-Your Hiking can be directed to Philosopher Tower, a high refuge seat in a place where a long time ago was attended a rudimentary construction that legend ascribes to Empedocle, a philosopher from Agrigento lived about V century a. C.

The Legend tells that he has fallen inside the crater because he felt immortal.

Well, the ancient construction was the Empedocle house for his studies. But another explanation tell us more, in fact maybe the Emperor Adriano ordered to build a refuge because he liked to Hike on Volcano Etna!

Your Hiking can now become a cultural adventure of History and Philosophy.

-The classic hike is to visits the principal higher crater at 3.340 metres.

-But another important thing you have to know: Volcano Etna is an important place where skiing: here are two skiing structure in Nicolosi and Linguaglossa.