Etna Park

The Park of Etna was founded in Sicily in 1987 with the aim of protecting the outstanding natural estate of Europe's largest volcano and managing environmental development correctly.

Mount Etna, so-called "Mons Gebel" by Arabs, was considered by ancient populations to be a divinity.

The volcano is 3.346 high and the diameter at the base is more than 40 km whereas the circumference is 250 km. Although Etna's territory is different for geomorphology and climatic conditions and the organic component has innumerable aspects it is homogeneous in its volcanic nature. This particularity and the fact that it is an active volcano enables us to consider The Park of Etna as unique.

The areas of Mount Etna affected by recent lava flows are characterized by a deserted landscape, absent of any vegetation or animal life; whereas the areas concerned by ancient lava flows are very rich and fertile. This outstanding variety of natural scenery is protected by "The Park of Etna", that is spread across an area of 59.000 hectares and is subdivided into areas A, B ( park), C and D (surrounding areas); All towns inside the park belong to the province of Catania and they are the following: Adrano, Belpasso, Biancavilla, Bronte, Castiglione di Sicilia, Giarre, Linguaglossa, Maletto, Mascali, Milo, Nicolosi, Pedara, Piedimonte Etneo. Randazzo, Ragalna, S.Alfio, S.Maria di Licodia, Trecastagni, Viagrande and Zafferana Etnea.