Hop on the Virtu Ferries ferry and ski your way through Sicily’s Mount Etna this winter
Most visitors who holiday in Sicily probably associate the Mediterranean island with summer, sun-burn and never-ending ice-cream but Sicily in winter is just as beautiful, if not more!
The treeless upper slopes of the Mount Etna volcano are perfect for snowboarding and alpine skiing.
Additionally, the lava bumps and high-altitude winds make Etna the perfect place for kite skiing.
Mount Etna provides two slopes to choose from, both equipped with ski lifts and ample facilities, including instruction and rentals from Etna Sci, making your holiday completely hassle free.
The slopes are found in two different districts, one in the northern area which ascends from 1,800 to 2,300 metres and ends in Linguaglossa, while the southern one ascends from 1,900 to 2,600 metres and leads down to Nicolosi.
If you don’t feel like skiing but still want to enjoy a different kind of winter sports, the Snowboard Academy has got you covered. Their philosophy is based on the teaching of snowboarding in total safety thanks to their team of federal instructors. They will help you achieve the joy of first turns and first tricks as you surf through the fresh and cool weather!
The only up to get up to the south side of Mount Etna is through the ‘Funivia dell’Etna’. The company also provides off-road buses, authorized to drive up the upper crater zones of the highest volcano in Europe where one can enjoy the beautiful volcanic landscape.
Visitors may be attracted to Mount Etna with the exciting prospect of skiing on such an impressive volcano but the area has much more to offer. So, take some time to explore the unique natural beauty of the area surrounding the volcano.
South Etna:
One can take an excursion to Etna’s southern area and explore its volcanic history and its natural catastrophes. This can include an excursion to Nicolosi, the town thought to be the doorway to Etna.
You can even opt to go up to Stazione Sud and cross over to Monti Rossi to experience the eruptive fissure which led to the 1669 eruption. This eruption covered the towns on Etna’s southern flank, even reaching Catania.
Hop over the plateau to witness where the 2001 lava stopped and a series of switchbacks crossing the evocative 1983 lava flow occurred. This will also give you a chance to take that Instagram perfect photo.
Hiking from Piano Vetore along the Monte Nero degli Zappini nature trail is also an option. Here you’ll get a chance to learn more about Etna’s most important volcanic and botanic features, amid various lava flows, hornitos, lava caves and Etna’s endemic plants.
East Etna:
East Etna provides an interesting and unique nature trip highlighting the presence of Nordic woodland on Etna, which is most unusual in the Mediterranean.
The East of Etna is also home to a scenic drive leaving from Fornazzo up the Mareneve road, leading to Etna Nord,Piano Provenzana. Here, Etna’s birch woods, which can only be found on this side of Etna, can be observed.
Visitors can also venture into an off-road hike after the drive up the eruptive fissure. By crossing the 2002 lava flow field and then over the 1923 eruptive fissure, vistors can enjoy the stunning views over the Ionian and the Sicilian Tirrenian coasts. Going along the fissure, visitors can even see the various hornitos (small lava scoriae cones) which follow the outline of the fissure.
West Etna:
West Etna gives you the chance to undergo a long hike and come across beautiful fruit orchards, bearing mostly apples and pears. You can even hike through the pinewoods forest land which covers the ancient Monte Nespole craters.
Visitors also have the option to visit the 1974 lava fields originating from Monti de Fiore and even continue to cross through various ancient lava flows before eventually reaching the Monte Egitto crater.
If you want to avoid the hassle or anxiety of discovering the beauty and fun Etna has to offer, it would definitely be smart to use the services provided by Etna Discovery.
Etna Discovery is an authorised Tour Operator and they specialise in adventure activities, sports and natural tourism. Their services include Jeep Tours, Trekking, Orienteering, Body rafting, Canyoning, Kitesurfing, Snorkelling, Quad bike riding and snowboarding.
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