Etna and winery private tour
Etna and winery private tour duration 6/7 hours app.
Mount Etna is a volcano on the east coast of Sicily, part of southern Italy. It is the largest active volcano in Europe. Mount Etna erupts every few years. Etna’s most destructive eruption in historic times started on 11 March 1669. It produced lava flows that destroyed 10 villages and reached the town of Catania five weeks later, on 15 April. Many buildings were destroyed and few people were killed. Major twentieth century eruptions occurred in 1928, 1949, 1971, 1983 and 1992, as well as the 2001 eruption. In 1971, it buried the Etna Observatory (built in the late 19th century) under lava. The 1992 eruption saw the town of Zafferana threatened by a lava flow, but successful diversion efforts saved the town with the loss of only one building a few hundred metres outside it.
In 2002–2003, the biggest series of eruptions for many years threw up a huge column of ash that could easily be seen from space and fell as far away as Libya, on the far side of the Mediterranean Sea. Sismic activity in this eruption caused the eastern flanks of the volcano to slip by up to two metres, and many houses on the flanks of the volcano were damaged. The eruption also completely destroyed the Rifugio Sapienza, on the southern flank of the volcano. Pick up from your place and drive to the bottom of the volcano.
Our first stop will be in the charming village of Zafferana Etnea to visit a local honey farm, in this place will also be possible to taste a variety of Sicilian products as olive oil, baked olives, tomatoes, anions, capers etc. Afterwards, we will start to ascend the volcano where, along the road, a variety vegetations can be admired. Arrive at Rifugio Sapienza, ( the end of the street 6000 feet). Here you can take a walk to the Silvestri’s craters from 1886 and see some of the recent lava flows from 2001 aruption. Drive down in order to reach one of the oldest winery of the volcanos’area, Barone di Villagrande where you can enjoy their fabulous wines and delicious homemade products.
- A selection of 5 wines paired with a tasting of fresh and seasonal local products.
- The wines could vary among the 8 ones they produce.
- DURATION: 1 ,30 minutes approx.
- AVAILABLE: from 11 am to 5 pm and according to availability, reservation is required.
- Etna and winery private tour it’s one of our most popular excursions.