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The Mount Etna is situated in the center of the Park, its lithologic border measures 250 km, it is approximately 3350 meters high, and an area of about 1260 square kilometers.
Twenty towns belong to the park territory (Adrano, Belpasso, Biacavilla, Bronte,Castiglione di Sicilia, Giarre, Linguaglossa, Maletto, Mascali, Milo, Nicolosi, Pedara, Piedimonte Etneo, Ragalna, Randazzo, Santa Maria di Licodia, Sant’Alfio, Trecastagni, Viagrande, Zafferana Etnea ) with a population of more than two thousand inhabitants.
Inside this extraordinary territory you can find suggestive routes which will let you discover the characteristics and the biodiversities of the park: Monte Nero degli Zappini, Monte Zoccolaro, Pietracannone-Cubania, Monti Sartorius, Piano dei Grilli, Cisternazza- Monte Spagnolo, Gurrida.
The landscape is characterized by the enormous variety of wildlife plants in the park.
In the lowest area of the park there are: vineyards, hazel groves, pistachio trees and also forests of oaks, apples trees and chestnut trees.
Particularly in the East side of the park there are: brushwood of small-sized durmasts, turkey oaks and Larch Pines, which shape beautiful pine forests like those of Linguaglossa and Castiglione di Sicilia.
Beyond 2000 meters there are the beech tree and the birch. The broom of the Etna is a typical species of the etneo landscape, one of the most important plants growing on the lava.
Furthermore the landscape is characterized by the “spino santo” (astragalus) that protects the other plants of the Etna mountain like the senecio, the violet and the cerastium.
Until today same species of animals live on the volcano such as: porcupine, vixen, wild cat, marten, rabbit, hare, among the smaller animals there are weasel, curt, Loir, oak and different species of rats and bats. There are a lot of birds; among the diurnal rapacious there are: sparrow hawk, buzzard, kestrel, travelling hawk and golden eagle; among the nocturnal there are barn owl, tawny owl, long-eared owl.
In the Gurrida lake, the only on the Etna area, you can see herons, duck and others water
birds.
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MAN’S ACTIVITIES AND TYPICAL PRODUCTS
In this wonderful and natural landscape tourists are also attracted by local products and traditional activities of the man of “muntagna”’ (as local inhabitants called it, in order to evidence mildness and generosity) promoted by the park for a sustainable development.
All around the volcano and across the twenty towns belonging to the park you can taste a large variety of flavors: the mushrooms from Nicolosi, the apples from Pedara ,the honey from Zafferana, the sausages from Linguaglossa, the strawberries from Maletto,the pistachios from Bronte, the salads from Adrano,the torroncini from Belpasso, the oil from Ragalna.
Last but not least the wine, a lot of quality wine, more and more appreciated in the world, cultivated in splendid vineyards of Milo, Sant’ Alfio, Viagrande, Castiglione di Sicilia, Linguaglossa, Piedimonte Etneo, where the extraordinary fertility of the lava land helps their its growth.
Beside, authentic work arts are made by manufacturing process of lava stone (meaningful the school of Nicolosi). The lava stone characterizes also the splendid architecture of many towns in the park.
HOW TO REACH THE PARK
The park can be reached by air or by car thanks to proximity to Catania city and the freeway a 18 me-ct.
The numerous inhabited area centers surrounding the protected area are well connected to Catania thanks to a road network.
For further information about itinerary and shelters please contact the park offices.
Ente Parco dell’ Etna, Parco regionale
Andress, cap, telephone number, fax of Ente Parco: Via del Convento 45, 95030 Nicolosi (Ct), telephone 095 821111, fax 095914738, e-mail address ufficiostampa@parcoetna.it
web site: www.parcoetna.it
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