Even in summer during the very hot days, up there the sun is violent but the air fresh. Beside the excursion to Pizzo Carbonaro, many other hikes are possible from the same departure spots or from Geraci Siculo, Polizzi Generosa and the Petralias; days with different interests can be combined. Close to Petralia Sottana has been realized the first Adventure Park of Sicily. The ascent of Monte Sambughetti – Campanito is a low difficult but highly satisfying itinerary. The Trail begins just after Sella del Contrasto, on the road connecting Mistretta to Nicosia; once on the top at about 1500 mt. it is possible to admire from the same point the green Tyrrhenian side of the massif, the south side toward the inland turns yellow from june to September, and in high visibility days the huge shape of Etna and the aeolian islands complete the landscape. Nebrodi mountains are covered with woods and vegetation and offer a variety of floral species and several small lakes fed by underground streams or springs where often are met different fauna species. On these mountains fresh promenades and treks can be done. Rocche del Crasto, a big massif located above the town of Alcara Li Fusi shows a Dolomite look in the wooden landscape of Nebrodi. This massif is given of high and steep rocky walls; a steep trail connects Alcara Li Fusi to the summit. Horse rides are possible nearby Casa Migliaca, Nebrodi and Madonie mountains.

-Easterly Route: criss-crossing between the densely wooded Nebrodi and Peloritani valleys, you will discover places of exceptional beauty, such as Caronia, San Marco d’Alunzo, Militello Rosmarino, Alcara li Fusi, Mirto, Naso, S.Angelo di Brolo, Patti, and other villages cast between land and coast. In the 1700’s this area was the center for farming of the blackberry-silkworm; many of these villages produced as much as 5000 pounds of silk each. If you still have time, go to Mirto, a small village on the Nebrodi hills. Visit its small museum of Sicilian fashion and XVII century folklore, housed in an aristocratic palace. At Patti you can visit a Roman villa of the imperial period and you can close off the Tour at Tindari, one of the last Greek colonies founded in 396 A.D. at the top of the Tindari promontory. From the ruins of the antique theatre you can enjoy a limitless view of the Tyrrhenian Sea and of the seven Aeolian Islands.
-Southerly Route: offers a host of itineraries, too large for a tour limited to 12 hours, and requires choosing; however, one must give priority to the two sites of world renown, namely Piazza Armerina and Agrigento. However, we strongly recommend not to leave out Taormina. Piazza Armerina houses a great Roman villa dating to the late Roman Empire, which is miraculously preserved in every detail including its exceptional mosaics. The other site to visit is the vast archeological park in Agrigento: the view of the Valley of Temples, the archeological museum located in the ancient Agora, and the majestic temples eternally reaching for the skies in the kaleidoscope of light and colors that is the Sicilian landscape, will take your breath away.

 During eruptions, tunnels may be formed such that lava flow inside remains hot and in molten state whilst the cave’s walls become cold and solidify. As a consequence long (up to 1500 m) caves may be formed. Hundreds of them are found in the etnensis system. One such cave, “Grotta del gelo” (Grotta of ice), at a height of 2000 m preserves ice in its innermost year-round. It is the only “glacier” that can be found in the Mediterranean Sea area. c) The surface of the etnensis cone is pitted with many subsidiary (or temporary) craters, even at low heights. In the center of Catania, the so called “Ascent Sangiuliano” is the slope of an ancient explosive crater (i.e. emitting gas and “lapilli”, not lava). In ancient times, the slopes of Etna were rich of thick forests. At lower heights anthropization has caused many of those forest to be replaced by rich citrus and orange groves, gardens, vineyards. The well known “Nerello Mascalese” is obtained from a vine cultivar native of Etna slopes, Above 1000 m asl a scattered forest zone has developed : at lower levels prevail chestnut, ilex, ashy, at higher level larch, still higher beech and birch; the variety “Betula Aetnensis” may go up to 2300 m asl, a botanic rarity found mainly on east slopes of the volcano. From this height up to 2500 m asl, the volcanic landscape is characterized by scattered “Spino santo” bushes (Astragalus Aetnensis) whose strong radical apparatus fixes vast extensions of the otherwise sterile volcanic summit and start its colonization, giving in addition shelter to smaller and more delicate creatures (such as Senecio Aetnensis, Viola Aetnensis, Rumex Aetnensis, Seleranthus Aetnensis, Saponaria Sicula, determining unique botanic associations). Above 2500 m asl only some minuscule herbaceous species can be found up tp 3050 m asl where, on the west side, between Main Crater and Punta Lucia Anthemis Aetnensis and Senecius Aetnensis may be found . Above 3050 m asl there is only a barren desert, battered by impetuous winds with prevalent W/NW direction, ambient temperatures often falls below freezing point (while the ground may be hot). There, silence is broken only by the wind’s whisthling and by the giant’s dull mumbling that rises from the abyss.