Page 178 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

176  SICIL Y AREA B Y AREA

Exploring Mount Etna
A protected area 58,000 ha (143,260 acres) in
size, Mount Etna offers many opportunities for
excursions, and attracts thousands of visitors every
year. A popular excursion is from Zafferana to the
Valle del Bove, the spectacular hollow whose shape Randazzo
was changed by the 1992 eruptions. The hike up to
the large craters at the summit is not to be missed.
Start off at the Rifugio Sapienza and Rifugio Citelli The Effects of an Eruption
hostels and Piano Provenzana (after suffering This chapel was one of
eruption damage, these hiker centres are now many buildings destroyed
in the massive lava flows
being rebuilt). A trip around the mountain is also caused by the
thrilling: from the Sapienza to the Monte Scavo 1983 eruptions.
camp, Piano Provenzana and the former Menza
camp. There are also several lava grottoes. • Maletto Monte Spagnolo
1,547 m, (5,074 ft)
Grotta del
Burò J
J
Grotta del Gelo
Monte Frumento Netto
2,299 m, (7,541 ft)
Bronte Rifugio
Monte Scavo
Punta Lucia
2,934 m, (9,623 ft)
Monte Ruvolo Monte Nunziata
1,410 m, (4,624 ft) 1,803 m, (5914 ft)
J
Grotta
della Neve
Skiing on Etna
Although there are few chair lifts, skiing on
Mount Etna is a unique experience. Besides the
regular ski runs you can do cross-country skiing
Monte Turchio
or mountain climbing in the snow. 1,295 m, (4,248 ft)

Botanic
Nature on Mount Etna Garden
Despite the many eruptions and the bitter cold that freezes the
terrain in winter, many species of plants have succeeded in
colonizing the lava soil. At high Torrente Milia
altitudes you can see small
lichens, camomile and Adrano
soapwort on the slopes.
Poplars thrive in the more
humid areas. Further down are
woods of beech, birch, larch Torrente Mazzo
and Corsican pine. Centuries Biancavilla
of hunting have reduced the
animal population, though
there are still rabbits, weasels,
wildcats and foxes, while the
main bird species are the
Sicilian partridge and the 0 kilometres 3
Dendrocopus woodpecker. Pine forest on the slopes of Etna
0 miles 3
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp204–5 and pp216–17

176-177_EW_Sicily.indd 176 11/3/16 2:10 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 24th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm