Mount Etna is making the news again but here’s what living beside her taught me

Reflections from seven years living beside Mamma Etna

Scenic view of the eruption of the snowy mount (volcano) Etna, south-east crater, at night under full moon, Catania province, Sicily, South of Italy, Italy, Europe

If you’ve seen the news this week, you’ll probably have noticed that Mount Etna is making headlines again. And if you’re planning a trip to Sicily, particularly flying into Catania, you may also have seen the words “volcano,” “ash cloud” and “flight disruption” and understandably thought… should I be worried?

I’ve actually had a few messages from people asking exactly that.

So, as someone who lived on the slopes of Etna for seven years, here’s my perspective.

First things first: yes, Etna is an active volcano.

Very active.

The mount Etna Volcano eruption on December 28, 2025. In the Sicily island, Italy.

In fact, Etna is one of the

most active volcanoes in the world, with an eruptive history stretching back around 500,000 years and documented activity going back at least 2,700 years. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.

And this week’s activity is very real. Volcanic ash has caused significant disruption at Catania Airport, with flights cancelled, diverted and delayed.

But here's the thing that I think gets lost when you see Etna in the news.

She smokes.

She rumbles.

She throws out lava.

She changes the landscape.

And occasionally, she causes absolute chaos at the airport.

But she is also one of the reasons this part of Sicily is so incredibly beautiful.

Mount Etna — living, breathing, and endlessly changing

In seven years of living there, I was only caught up in an Etna-related flight delay once. And I travelled a lot.

That isn't to say volcanic activity shouldn't be taken seriously. Of course it should. Aviation authorities monitor Etna extremely closely, and when volcanic ash presents a risk to aircraft, flights are restricted or airports temporarily closed.

But there is a big difference between “Etna is erupting” and “Sicily is unsafe.”

Etna has been erupting, in various forms, for thousands of years.

Life carries on around her.

And that is one of the things I love most about Sicily.

Mama Etna

Sicilians often refer to Etna affectionately as Mamma Etna.

And once you've spent time around her, you begin to understand why.

Because Etna doesn't just destroy.

She creates.

The volcanic soil around the mountain is incredibly fertile, helping support vineyards, olive groves, citrus trees, pistachios and other crops. Over thousands of years, layers of volcanic material have helped create the rich agricultural landscape that surrounds the volcano.

So you can have something that looks completely otherworldly…

Black volcanic rock.

Ancient lava flows.

Craters and cones.

Huge expanses of barren-looking landscape.

…and then suddenly you're surrounded by vineyards, orchards and green forests.

It is one of the most fascinating contrasts in Sicily.

And yes, we actually walk on her.

When I take my Elements of Sicily guests to Mount Etna, we don't simply look at her from a distance.

We walk through the volcanic landscape.

And this is one of my favourite experiences to share with people.

Because Etna is so much more than the dramatic images you see on the news when she's erupting.

Walking through old lava flows, craters and black sand, it feels almost like another planet

There are old lava flows, volcanic craters, black sand and incredible views across the landscape. UNESCO describes the area as having an extraordinary range of volcanic features, including summit craters, cinder cones, lava flows and the enormous Valle del Bove.

It feels almost like another planet.

And then you remember that you're standing on a living, breathing volcano.

A mountain that is constantly changing

One of the things I find fascinating about Etna is that she is never really finished.

New lava flows become part of the mountain. New craters and cones appear. Old landscapes slowly weather and vegetation begins to return.

It's a reminder that Sicily isn't a static postcard.

It is a place where geology, history, food, agriculture and everyday life are all tangled together.

And Etna is right at the heart of it.

So if you've seen the news this week and sent me a message asking whether I'd still recommend travelling to Sicily…

Yes. Absolutely.

Sicily, Italy: hikers walking along one of the craters of Mount Etna, the sicilian active vulcano, in the province of Catania.

I would, however, always recommend checking your flight status if you're flying into Catania during periods of volcanic activity. That's sensible travel planning, not something to panic about.

And if Etna happens to be having one of her more dramatic moments while you're there?

Well… that's Sicily.

She's been doing this for a very, very long time.

And personally, after seven years of living alongside her, I have to admit that I find her much more fascinating than frightening.