


Etna is an iconic site that includes 19,237 uninhabited hectares on the highest part and it is located on the eastern coast of Sicily. Mt. Etna is the highest mountain on the Mediterranean island and it is the most active volcano in the world. The volcano’s eruptive history dates back 500,000 years and we have documentation of this activity for at least the last 2700 years.

Mt. Etna’s almost constant eruptive activity continues to influence volcanology, geophysics and other Earth science disciplines. The volcano also supports important terrestrial ecosystems, including endemic flora and fauna and it is a natural laboratory for studying ecological and biological processes. The varied and accessible range of volcanic characteristics such as the top craters, ash cones, lava flows and the “Valle del Bove” depression have made the site a privileged destination for research and education.
Although we have no documents that confirm its exact origin, in all likelihood, this variety dates back several centuries in the Catania plains.


