Words THOMAS OPSTRUP
Photos THOMAS OPSTRUP
THE VOLCANO
Rising majestically above the eastern coast of Sicily, Mount Etna is much more than a volcano. It is a living force that has shaped the landscape, the climate and the culture of the surrounding region for thousands of years.
At more than 3,300 metres above sea level, Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe and one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Unlike ancient mountains that slowly disappear with time, Etna is continuously changing. Every eruption adds new layers of lava, ash and volcanic minerals, slowly building and reshaping the mountain.
The volcano is never truly still. Deep beneath the surface, geological forces continue to create new land, reminding us that Etna is not only a part of Sicily’s history – it is a landscape that is still being written today.
For the people who live around Etna, the volcano has always represented two sides of nature: its immense power and its extraordinary generosity.
Etna’s story began hundreds of thousands of years ago through repeated volcanic activity. Over time, countless eruptions have created the mountain we know today, forming a complex structure of lava flows, craters and volcanic valleys.
Each eruption leaves behind a geological memory. New lava may appear barren and lifeless at first, but over decades and centuries it slowly transforms. Weather, rain and microorganisms break down the volcanic rock, creating mineral-rich soils capable of supporting some of Sicily’s most remarkable agriculture.
This cycle of destruction and renewal is one of Etna’s greatest mysteries. The same forces that destroy landscapes also create the foundation for new life.
Today, the slopes of Etna are home to vineyards, olive trees, orchards and forests – all growing on land that was once shaped by fire.
Etna has one of the longest and most detailed records of volcanic activity on Earth. Historical records of eruptions go back more than 2,700 years, making it one of the most documented active volcanoes known.
The earliest recorded eruption dates back to around 1500 BC, and since then generations of Sicilians have witnessed the changing character of the mountain.
Some eruptions have been dramatic events visible from far away, while others have quietly added new layers to the volcano’s slopes.
For scientists, Etna is an extraordinary natural laboratory. For the people who live nearby, it is simply part of life.
The volcano influences everything around it: the shape of the landscape, the agricultural traditions and even the identity of the communities that have developed in its shadow.
Around the world, it is known as Mount Etna. But for many Sicilians, it is simply A Muntagna – the mountain.
The name reflects a relationship that goes beyond geography. Etna is not seen only as a natural phenomenon, but as a presence that has always been part of everyday life.
Farmers have learned to understand its rhythms. They know its soils, its winds and its changing seasons. They have built terraces among lava stones, planted vines where the terrain allows, and passed their knowledge from generation to generation.
Living beside Etna requires respect. The mountain cannot be controlled, only understood.
"Long before modern science explained volcanic activity, humans created stories to understand the mysterious forces beneath Etna."
One of the most impressive landscapes on Etna is the Valle del Bove, a vast natural amphitheatre located on the eastern side of the volcano.
Created by ancient geological collapses and later shaped by thousands of years of eruptions, the valley reveals the immense forces that have formed Etna.
Standing inside the Valle del Bove, the visitor can see layers of volcanic history exposed in the landscape: ancient lava flows, steep cliffs and the traces of eruptions from different periods.
It is one of the places where Etna’s true scale becomes clear. Here, the volcano feels less like a mountain and more like a living planet.
Etna is not a single volcanic peak. It is a constantly evolving volcanic system with more than 300 craters and volcanic vents.
Every crater represents a moment in the mountain’s long history. Some are ancient and silent, while others have become active during recent eruptions.
This extraordinary variety creates a landscape of contrasts:
It is this diversity that makes Etna unlike anywhere else in the world.
Long before modern science explained volcanic activity, humans created stories to understand the mysterious forces beneath Etna.
In Greek and Roman mythology, Etna was believed to be the forge of Hephaestus (Vulcan), the god of fire and metalworking.
According to legend, beneath the mountain he created weapons and armour for the gods, and the flames of his forge were responsible for the fires and eruptions of Etna.
Another myth tells of Typhon, a giant creature who challenged the gods and was buried beneath the mountain. His movements beneath the earth were believed to cause earthquakes and eruptions.
These legends reveal something important: for thousands of years, Etna has inspired both fear and fascination.
In 2013, Mount Etna was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its outstanding geological importance.
The volcano represents one of the world’s most valuable examples of ongoing volcanic processes. Scientists from around the world study Etna to better understand how volcanoes develop and influence the planet.
But beyond science, Etna’s importance is also cultural.
The mountain has shaped the lives, traditions and agriculture of the people who have lived around it for centuries.
The relationship between Etna and wine is a story of adaptation.
The volcanic soils are difficult. The terrain is often steep, rocky and demanding. Yet these same conditions create something extraordinary.
The mineral-rich soils, high altitude and dramatic changes between warm Mediterranean days and cool mountain nights provide ideal conditions for producing wines with freshness, elegance and a strong sense of place.
The vines growing on Etna are not simply planted in soil. They are rooted in the history of the volcano itself.
Every vineyard carries traces of eruptions that happened decades, centuries and thousands of years ago.
At Motta Wine, our vineyards are part of this extraordinary landscape.
Here, near Motta Sant’Anastasia, we are connected to a land shaped by Etna’s fire and by generations of farmers who understood how to work with this unique environment.
The volcano gives challenges, but it also gives character.
"It creates a place where ancient traditions, unique soils and human patience come together. Because on Etna, wine is not only made. It is shaped by the mountain."
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