An unusual way to discover the mountain slopes around the volcano, with the railway wagons Circumetnea.
At the entrance of the station of Catania-Borgo an old steam locomotive greets visitors, perhaps the same who accompanied Edmondo De Amicis in his journey at the beginning of the century. The route of Circumetnea is almost the same as then.

Heading towards the outskirts of Catania, the railroad cuts across the city center until you find the first clear trace of the presence of Etna: the casting of 1669, that reached out and destroyed Catania.
Passed Misterbianco opens a wonderful panoramic view of the mountain with vegetation that varies continuously. It is a country richly cultivated: the citrus groves give way to the olive trees, a few rare vineyard, to prickly pears grown intensively. Parade one after the other peoples towns surrounding the volcano on this front: Paterno, S. Maria di Licodia, Biancavilla, Adrano.

The entrance in the country is always sealed with a shrill whistle, time to go through the bad areas of urban expansion and immediately after the sudden stop at the station.
Do not be surprised if dimprovviso the train stops in the middle of the campaign: This is an optional stop. Until recently, these stops were at the service of farmers who used the train to the agricultural and then return to town, now may become the starting point for excursions. For example, from station of Passo Zingaro can be traced back through a trail in the midst of pistachio cultivation and ancient lava up ahead Minardo, or stop by Gurrida you can reach the nearby lake.
 
  Bronte exceeded the route of Circumetnea is immersed in a splendid cast consists of lava rope and reaches its maximum altitude in the district of Maletto allaltezza dellaltopiano Defense, from which the view extends to the summit craters.

A Randazzo was about half-way: you can stop to visit the center before starting the descent down the valley dellAlcantara. The campaign is beginning to be dotted with lavish villas, and the train runs through the finest vineyards Circumetnea Solicchiata. Towns and villages are passed one after the other while in the distance you can see again the glitter of the Ionian and on the sides of the railway reappear citrus.
The train of Cicumetnea concludes its run at the station of Ripon, to return to Catania is convenient to get to the station and take Giarre connecting an ordinary train of Ferrovie dello Stato "walk the line Messina-Catania.