Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

The ancient Romans believed that Vulcan, the god of fire, forged thunderbolts for various gods and heroes in his workshop deep inside the volcano we now call Mount Etna. Sometimes he worked so fast and furiously that the ground shook and sparks filled the sky creating a volcanic eruption. Of course, we now know that Etna's volcanic activity is the result of the northward motion of the African Plate colliding with the Eurasian Plate.

Free of roads, a sturdy and reliable 4WD vehicle is a great way to spend the day getting to know one of the world's major active volcanoes. Acclaimed as "brooding, dark and fascinating" in the popular book, "1,000 Places To See Before You Die, " this seething example of Mother Nature's fury is home to a never-ending tableau of eye-popping scenery.

Weather conditions can be variable so wear comfortable hiking shoes, warm clothes, and a hat. If you wear contact lenses it's advised that you bring a pair of glasses to keep the volcanic dust out of your eyes.

Your thrilling adventure begins with a drive to the seaside village of Giarre where you'll meet you 4x4 driver. As your sturdy vehicle makes its way up the slope you'll notice the topography change from one ecological zone to another. For the first 3,000 feet you'll see vineyards, olive groves and crops thriving in the rich and fertile soil. As the mountain grows steeper you'll see forests of chestnut, beech, oak, pine, and birch. Over 6,500 feet is a world of ash, sand, lava, craters and rocks. Due to Etna's varied landscape the volcano is an acclaimed UNESCO World Heritage Site noted for its "ongoing geological processes and volcanic landforms."

For a close up look at Etna's severe beauty you'll stop to see remnants of the vast lava flows that have carved their way through the hillside and Valle del Bove, an eleven-mile wide valley ringed by imposing cliffs. The huge depression which remains is known as Valle de Bove (Valley of the Ox). Visit the Dagala Longa by 4x4 as you travel over the lava fields. As you look over the Mars-like landscape you'll see evidence of a catastrophic eruption that rocked the mountain 8,000 years ago - pitted and charred remains left behind as wave after wave of molten lava thundered its way over the slope resulting in a 4,000-foot-deep chasm.

Back on the vehicle you'll continue on to the Lava Corruccio Cave, which showcases how a particularly fluid lava flow shapes the landscape.

For a look at new lava flows you'll rejoin your 4x4 and travel to Mount Sartorius for a hike along paths corroded by the 2001 and 2002 eruptions. Later, you'll relax over a typical Sicilian lunch at a local mountain restaurant followed by a drive back to Messina.