Etna: Europe's highest volcano with great history, food, and wine near Taormina

Mount Etna, or Mongibello, has shaped the territory of eastern Sicily with its volcanic activity for millennia, becoming one of its most iconic local symbols. Because of its high scientific-cultural value and incredible botanical and zoological variety, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.
Lunar-looking craters, volcanic deserts and caves, forested areas, grasslands, and densely cultivated fields follow one another in its more than 3,300-meter altitude, creating a unique ecosystem. Mammals, reptiles, insects, and birds find their habitat here, including endangered species such as the wild cat, marten, or Sicilian shrew.

The flora, too, has adapted to the heterogeneous morphology found along Etna's slopes, developing at higher altitudes the ability to survive extreme conditions, with endemic species such as Etna Broom, Astragalus, or a particular type of Juniper that grows only in this area.