“Smoking Etna, column in the sky, eternally fed by sparkling snow, whose fabric roars among the purest source of terrifying fire”. Dating from the V century, this verse by Pindaro express admiration and deep respect for the unfathomable natural phenomenon that is Mount Etna.

Pindaro’s words recall Etna as a mysterious location of telluric phenomena, but also a colossal and dominating mountain. A “muntagna” par excellence in the minds of Sicilians who live beneath it, often blind to the remarkable beauty around them. Spectators of this extravagant lady’s volcanic tantrums from times past, who often tends to show us fantastic flashes of vibrant spirit. A female volcano, a tangible metaphor which evolves with the feminine essence of our planet. Mount Etna has for centuries generously provided locals with huge opportunities to develop and work. Gardens, vines, woods and “neviere” snow stores have formed a multi-purpose wealth and unbeatable contribution to the original culture of the territory, which is visible in every corner of Etna’s landscape.

As we are reminded by Pindaro's poetic words, Etna is also a mysterious place with threatening roars and the purest source of terrifying fire. Pindaro's much venerated fire exits the dark ravines and often appears a firm threat. The destruction of fields, villages and entire cities by the flowing lava ,during eruptions which can last months or years, are an enforced character of our “Muntagna”. Among the most significant episodes in recent years, the eruption of 1669 of the Red Mountains which destroyed more than two thirds of the city of Catania. There was also the eruption of 1928 that completely destroyed the village of Mascali or the eruptive activity of the last thirty years that buried vineyards and woodland and threatened various small towns.

Pindaro was not the only person struck by gigantic Etna’s charm. Many from the classic age onwards queried the nature of this exceptional geological object and tried to find explanations for volcanic phenomena. Among them, a significant contribution by an enlightened and multitalented Sicilian scientist, Carlo Gemmellaro. With his systematic observations on the products and morphological aspects of Etna, Gemmellaro subdivided Etna's products into two large units corresponding to two eruptive masses: the “pyroxenic axis” and “feldspatic axis”, laying the foundation for modern theories on genesis and the evolution of magma. Furthermore, his daily observations established the first systematic "monitoring" of volcanic activities with the first distinctions of eruption behaviour.

In more recent times, Etna has lured scholars from around the world who are attracted by the magnificence of the volcanic phenomena, but also by the ease with which you can reach the mouth of the side eruptions and the active summit craters. Starting in the 60’s and 70’s, there were mass amounts of researchers from various universities and research centres in Europe. Researchers who now come from around the world take samples and analyse the rock and gas which is continuously produced by Etna. The volcano has become a natural laboratory and for many authors it acts as a precious training ground to develop and test new ideas. Equalling the increasing number of researchers, the number of models that attempt to explain the petrologic, geological and morphological evolution of Mount Etna. Views are not always shared and often lead to considerable discrepancies or differences of opinion among the researchers from various schools of thought. However, some confirmations have been achieved in the comprehension of the importance and development of the volcano over time.