Etna: A History of the Mountain and of its Eruptions

A comprehensive study traces Mount Etna's recorded history, early classical references, cartographic representations, and the myths associated with the mountain. It describes physical features and distinct zones—cultivated, wooded, and barren—recounts ascent experiences including routes, summit observations, and local facilities, and profiles towns on its slopes. A chronological catalogue summarizes eruptions from antiquity through the nineteenth century, noting frequency, character, and major lava flows. Geological and mineralogical chapters analyze lava types, microscopic structure, and debates about age and eruptive centers. Maps, sections, illustrations, and field observations by the author and contemporary geologists accompany the account.