On the Paths of Fire: Brigitte and Michele Discover Etna with Sicily Car Service
The sun has just peeked over Catania when our driver pulls up in front of the Taormina hotel for the pickup. Michele is already outside, visibly excited.
Brigitte, with a compact backpack and camera around her neck, steps out smiling.
"Ready for Etna?" the driver asks warmly.
"Yes, we can't wait!" exclaims Michele, clapping his hands like a child on Christmas Eve.
"C'est un rêve pour moi…" Brigitte murmurs. "I've only seen volcanoes in documentaries. But today… today I'll see a real one."
🚘 Travel Worry-Free, Only Wonder
During the journey, the car glides smoothly along the SS120. The beauty of the slowly changing landscape – from the orange groves on the coast to Etna's dark slopes – is mesmerizing.
Michele turns to Brigitte:
"From here, you start to understand why they call it *Mongibello*. A mix of Latin 'mons' and Arabic 'jebel'. The mountain of mountains."
Our driver, an expert on the area, interjects:
"Today we'll see it up close. I'll take you to **Rifugio Sapienza**, almost 2,000 meters high, and then we'll go near the **Monti Silvestri**. But if the weather holds, we can also go a bit higher, by cable car."
⛰️ Rifugio Sapienza: The Gateway to Etna
The arrival at **Rifugio Sapienza** is a solemn moment. The air is fresh; the landscape has transformed: lush vegetation has given way to volcanic rock, black stone, lichens, and colors that seem to come from another planet.
Brigitte gets out of the car and stands still for a moment.
"C'est comme Mars… ou la Lune!"
"That's right," Michele replies. "Here you truly feel the Earth's power."
From the refuge's parking lot, you can already see the **Etna Cable Car**, which takes you up to 2,500 meters, where off-road tours depart to reach the summit craters.
But first, a stop at **Monti Silvestri**, the dormant craters formed after the 1892 eruption.
🌋 Monti Silvestri: Walking on an Eruption
The two begin their walk along the rim of the largest Monti Silvestri crater.
The wind kicks up small clouds of lava dust. Brigitte walks slowly, looking around as if entering a dream.
"Michele, the ground is so… fragile. But also strong. It's all so different from anything I've ever seen!"
Michele smiles:
"Every stone here has a story. This is a dormant crater, but a little higher up are the five main **central craters**, still active: the **Northeast Crater**, the **Southeast Crater**, the **Voragine**, the **Bocca Nuova**, and the most recent, **the New Voragine**."
The driver adds:
"The Southeast has been the most active in recent years. It put on lava shows that could even be seen from Taormina. But today it's quiet."
🏞️ The Cable Car Ascent: A Breath Near the Sky
Brigitte can't resist: she wants to go higher. The cable car quickly takes them to 2,500 meters, where the landscape becomes even more surreal.
The alpine guides lead the group among the craters, explaining the geology, recent eruptions, and the volcano's continuous transformation. Words get lost in the wind, but Brigitte's eyes sparkle.
"It's like being at the center of the Earth," she whispers. "A heart beating beneath our feet."
Michele looks at her. For him, this trip is much more than a vacation. It's the desire to share his roots with the person he loves.
🍽️ Zafferana Etnea: Authentic Flavors
Upon their return, the driver takes them towards **Zafferana Etnea**, one of the most famous villages on the eastern side of the volcano. The town is known for its pastry, honey, and warm hospitality.
Lunch is served at a local trattoria, with a typical menu: Sicilian appetizer with caponata, cheeses, and cured meats, **maccheroni with Nebrodi black pig sauce**, and for the main course, eggplant rolls and sausage.
Brigitte eagerly tastes everything:
"Je ne veux plus partir…" she laughs, savoring a spoonful of orange honey.
Michele, joking, replies:
"See? This is the real Sicilian trap: it's not just the landscape. It's everything: the flavors, the people, the history."
🌊 Rocks and Sun in the Afternoon
The afternoon flows gently on the way back. But before returning to the hotel, Brigitte has a wish: to sit on the rocks and look at the sea.
So we take them to one of the panoramic points near Santa Tecla. The Ionian Sea is calm, a deep blue. The waves slowly break on the black rocks, also children of the volcano.
Brigitte takes off her hiking shoes and dips her feet in the water.
"This is the perfect ending," she says. "Fire and water, together. Sicily."
Michele looks at her with eyes full of love.
"And tomorrow... Syracuse. But today, today stays here in my heart."
🛡️ The Security of a Stress-Free Journey
With **Sicily Car Service**, every moment is taken care of down to the smallest detail. It's not just about moving from one point to another. It's about **living an authentic experience**, without the stress of driving, parking, or logistics.
Brigitte tells us clearly:
"Thanks to you, I can focus on what I see. I've never traveled like this, and I'd do it a thousand times over."
🔚 The First Day Is Just the Beginning…
The return to Taormina is peaceful. Etna, now distant, still stands on the horizon, like a familiar presence.
Brigitte takes one last photo from the window: "Au revoir, Etna. A bientôt…"
And Michele squeezes her hand, already thinking about the next stop. Because with Sicily Car Service, every day in Sicily becomes a new chapter to tell.
📌 If you also want to experience Etna worry-free, choose the comfort of a **car rental with driver**:
🌐 www.sicilycarservice.com
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📞 +39 333 160 6317 | +39 328 481 7474
**Travel comfortably. Experience Sicily.**