Etna to be discovered

A look from the edge of the Voragine Crater (still called by many “Central Crater”), one of the Etna Summit Craters. We must say that the Central Crater itself no longer exists, after having been progressively filled with its products (intracraterial activity) during the first half of the last century, what is now visible is the Voragine formed in October 1945. Frontally inside the wall South East of this crater you can see a “plume”, is nothing but a Pit Crater – or generally called a pit or sinkhole Crater – formed after a rapid collapse of the ground on August 7, 2016.

One of the most fascinating and relatively easy to visit on Etna, the Sartorius Mountains. These are ancient craters formed during the eruption of 1865 at the base of Monte Frumento delle Concazze at about 1650 m. s.l.m. They owe their name to the scientist Sartorius Von Waltershausen, who was among the first to try to catalog the main eruptions of Etna. They are located in Citelli in what is called “The Kingdom of Birches”.

The hidden wonder of Sicily. Here is the magical ice cave in the Mediterranean where it’s winter even when it’s summer.
Here is the Grotta del Gelo, so called for the perennial presence of ice that has accumulated for over three hundred years. With its stalactites and stalagmites set in the blue, this atypical cave in a hidden corner of the Etna Park is considered the “most southern” glacier in Europe with an average temperature (cave bottom) that is around -0, 6 degree. Located at 2,030 meters above sea level, on the slopes of the volcano, Grotta del Gelo is located in Sciara del Follone, an accumulation of volcanic debris produced by the eruptions that affected the northern slope of Mount Etna for ten years (from 1614 to 1624).

The chilling and disturbing name makes the best idea of what you will see. Twisted shapes, curves, similar to agonizing bodies move as if they want to escape an inescapable destiny. Those that at first sight may look like corpses are nothing but accumulations of lava flows of the Pahoehoe type (ie “stones on which you can walk”) that have been poured into the area called “Sciara del Follone” following the eruption of the Etna of 1614-1624, the longest among the historical eruptions of the volcano that affected the entire northern slope. Surely it is one of the most interesting and sought after for hikers, the extraordinary lava sculptures have a unique charm.

After Grotta del Gelo, the Grotta di Serracozzo is the most visited cave of Etna for its particular structure and for the effects produced inside it by the beams of light that illuminate it from above. It is located on the East side of Etna in the Citelli locality at an altitude of about 1900 m.

“Photography is the means by which I share my passion with others”.
Giovanni Giusa (known as Giò) is an amateur photographer, as well as a great fan of Etna and Hiking. He was born in Catania on November 26th, 1974.
His photos, through social media, have been around the world obtaining publications on various Volcanology sites, newspapers and various online newspapers, exposing his images in some exhibitions.
Although he loves landscape in general his favorite subject is Etna, “his” Etna as he defines it, so he nourishes a deep passion and a love that we could call “morbid”.
This led him to push himself further and further, from the medium-low altitudes to high ones, the Summit Craters to over 3000 meters.
When he is not with his family we can meet him on the Mongibello, which Giò considers his second home, where he also goes several times a week not only to photograph every detail, always looking for strategic places, even at night, but also for savor that sense of freedom that only the mountain with its scents and silences can give.
The result of the union between these two passions is the gratification obtained from his followers, especially those who live abroad and who feel at home in his photographs.