Page 321 - The Rough Guide of Sicily

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT CATANIA; AUTUMN AT ETNA; ETNA CRATER

SNOW, ICE AND THE BISHOP

Even in winter, the snow on Etna’s southern side tends to lie only in patches, partly
melted by the heat of the rocks. On the northern side, however, hollows in the ground
are filled year-round with snow. From here, the ice used to be cut, covered with ash
and then transported to the rest of the island, the mainland and even Malta, for

refrigeration purposes – a peculiar export that constituted the main source of revenue
for the Bishop of Catania, who owned the land until comparatively recently.

Approaches to Etna