| The Italian Alps are well known for skiing and offers | | | | the Sicilians have become accustomed to living in the |
| dozens of mountain resorts, from the duty free zone | | | | shadow of the volcano, and have always rebuilt what |
| of Livigno, to the glitzy Cervinia. However, what | | | | the lava has destroyed. |
| many people don't realise is that it's possible to ski on | | | | Skiers and snowboarder describe the Etna experience |
| Mount Etna in Sicily - Italy's mafia soaked | | | | as like nothing else in the Alpine world: "It's an |
| Mediterranean Island, which lies off the south coast | | | | amazing place to ski - on a clear day you can see the |
| of the country. | | | | sea, and at the same time you have a plume of gas |
| Mount Etna is the largest and highest volcano in | | | | and steam constantly rising from the summit". |
| Europe, and one of the most active volcanoes in the | | | | There are two ski areas on Etna; the southern slope |
| world; and is in a state of almost continuous state of | | | | is Rifugio Sapienza and the northern resort is |
| eruption. Sicily was chosen by the Gods of Olympus | | | | Linguaglossa. As with any other ski holiday in Italy, |
| as the scene for their sagas of love and war, passion | | | | hotels, instruction and ski rental is available in both |
| and revenge, and it was Mount Etna - the realm of | | | | resorts. The snow also provides ample opportunity |
| Vulcan, god of fire - that was the home of the | | | | for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and |
| one-eyed monster known as the Cyclops; today it's | | | | snowboarding. |
| still a land of fire and latent wrath. | | | | Despite Etna's southerly latitude in the warm seas of |
| Building a ski area on an active volcano is not without | | | | the Mediterranean, the 3350m elevation means that |
| its difficulties; continuous eruptions and lava flows | | | | in winter it receives deep snows, even down to the |
| have repeatedly damaged or destroyed various lifts | | | | lower altitudes of 1800m. The area also offers plenty |
| systems in the past. In October 2002, rivers of boiling | | | | of warm Sicilian hospitality and wonderful authentic |
| lava poured down from Mount Etna's crater, engulfing | | | | cuisine. |
| small buildings, incinerating pine trees, pushing over ski | | | | If you're looking for a ski trip in the danger zone, |
| lift pylons, knocking down power lines and swallowing | | | | Italy's smouldering Etna should definitely be on your |
| a ski school hut before surrounding an empty | | | | list. Just watch out for the lava. |
| mountain (everyone had been evacuated). However, | | | | |