Which Italian island is home to Mount Etna?

Mount Etna is on the Italian island of Sicily.

Etna rises on Sicily’s east coast, near Catania, and is one of Europe’s most active volcanoes. Its height changes as eruptions build and reshape the summit; a September 2024 measurement placed it at about 3,403 metres. Lava and ash have repeatedly altered the mountain’s profile over thousands of years.

The volcano’s activity is linked to the complex boundary between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. Its fertile volcanic soils support vineyards, orchards, and other agriculture on the lower slopes. In 2013, UNESCO added Mount Etna to its World Heritage List.

A common mix-up is Mount Vesuvius, the famous volcano near Naples on mainland Italy. Etna is not on Sardinia, Capri, or Elba: those are separate islands, while Sicily is the large island surrounding the volcano. Sicily also includes smaller volcanic islands, such as Stromboli and Vulcano, but neither is Etna.