Mt Etna with its 135 Km of perimeter and 3350 mt of altitude is the highest active volcano in Europe. It is the result of geologic events dating back dozen of thousands of years. The beginning of this process starts during the Pleistocene epoch (570.000-600.000 years ago) and takes places into the sea.

Mt Etna Park was founded in 1987 and covers 58.095 ha. It is divided into a zone “A” made up by 19.000 ha of public land without any human settlement. It is the are of wide spaces where the flora and fauna are the protagonists. The vegetation changes according to the altitude. Going from the lower altitude towards the higher we can find: vineyards, hazelnut and pistachio groves, oak and chestnut-woods and apple orchards. Until 2000 mt the beeches and birches live as well. Over 2500 mt the vegetation becomes rare because not many species can live in the summit area of the volcano, between those the cushions of milk-vetch (Astragalus siculus). From 3000 mt we can find desert spaces, characterised by volcanic gasses. The fauna is very rich with examples of porcupines, foxes, wildcats, martens, rabbits, hares, weasels, hedgehogs and dormice. As well many predatory birds, such as sparrow-hawks, buzzards, kestrels, peregrine hawks and golden eagles.
The “B” zone covers 26.000 ha and is mainly made up by private agricultural plots. The work of men through the centuries is visible by the beautiful farm houses, wine and oil presses and the old terraces that allowed to cultivate the slopes. In this area the Park encourages the farmers not to leave the countryside in order to keep the traditions and the identity.