Mount Etna is the Italian volcano famous for the 1669 eruption that destroyed much of Catania.
Etna is an active stratovolcano on Sicily and one of the most active volcanoes in the world. In 1669, lava flowed from a large flank eruption toward Catania, reaching the city and destroying substantial parts of it. The eruption lasted several months and altered the coastline.
Etna is not the same volcano as Vesuvius, which overlooks the Bay of Naples and buried Pompeii in AD 79. Stromboli and Vulcano are also separate Italian volcanoes, located in the Aeolian Islands.
Etna’s frequent eruptions continually rebuild and modify its summit and flanks. Its activity, height, and long historical record have made it an important natural laboratory for volcanologists.