Etna, Stromboli and Calabria Photo Tour
Southern Italy is home to some of Europe’s most active volcanoes. Walking the slopes of Mount Etna and Stromboli can feel like exploring a primordial land, where footsteps sinking into black volcanic ash mingle with the deep, muffled pulse of the mountain beneath the surface.
For centuries, successive eruptions have reshaped both the landscape and the life around them, influencing the communities that inhabit their slopes and becoming part of their stories and traditions. It is a cycle of destruction and renewal that continues to this day.
And while Etna’s eruptions, however frequent, remain impossible to predict, Stromboli follows an extraordinary rhythm of its own. During the day, its activity may appear simply as dense clouds of smoke rising from the summit, almost like smoke from a chimney in winter. As daylight fades, the scene changes completely. Against the darkness, each explosion becomes increasingly vivid, sending incandescent fragments into the sky like natural fireworks, illuminating the night above Stromboli beneath a canopy of stars.
But Southern Italy is also a land shaped by traditions and ancient crafts, where colourful stone villages overlook rugged coastlines and turquoise waters. These contrasts become particularly striking in Calabria. Mediterranean light brings out the geometry of Scilla and the cliffs of Tropea, before turning sharper and more dramatic among the stone forms of Pentedattilo, a village perched beneath a mountain shaped like a giant hand.
Meanwhile, deep in the forests of Serra San Bruno, another story survives. Here, among the shadows of the woods and the smoke rising from the scarazzi, charcoal makers still work according to techniques passed down through generations. It is a very different photographic experience from the volcanic landscapes and Mediterranean coast: quieter, more intimate and deeply human, built around smoke, gestures, faces and the physical traces of a craft that has almost disappeared elsewhere in Europe.
Itinerary
Day 1
We arrive in Catania in the morning, where the Mediterranean light already hints at what lies ahead. After picking up our vehicles, we make our way to our hotel in Catania for check-in, followed by a relaxed lunch and a short break. In the early afternoon, we head south along the coast toward the Calanchi del Cannizzola, a landscape shaped by erosion and time.
During the afternoon, we begin to settle into the rhythm of the journey: moving slowly, observing, and reading the landscape before taking out our cameras. The badlands gradually unfold before us, their gentle lines becoming more defined as the light begins to soften. At sunset, we focus on abstract compositions, compressed perspectives, and the interplay between shadows and forms: the first true photographic session of the journey, surrounded by silence and the warm tones of Sicily.
Overnight in Catania.
Day 2
For our first sunrise session, we head toward Isola Bella in Taormina, known as the “Pearl of the Mediterranean.” This small rocky island lies just off the Sicilian coast, famous for its lush Mediterranean and exotic vegetation and connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of white pebbles that appears and disappears with the changing tide. At sunrise, the backlight creates an almost dreamlike atmosphere, while the passage of a slow coastal train adds another element to the storytelling. It is a simple and relaxed first session, yet one that can produce iconic photographs of one of the best-known landscapes along Sicily’s Ionian coast.
We then return to Catania to explore its historic center in the early morning light, photographing the city’s Baroque character and architectural scenes carved from dark volcanic stone—a city shaped by millennia of life beneath “the Mountain” that rises above it and watches over it: Mount Etna.
Gradually, for us too, the presence of Etna becomes impossible to ignore, dominating both the horizon and the imagination. Our adventure begins in the early afternoon, when we reach the main parking area and start making our way toward the higher slopes. A cable car followed by 4×4 vehicles takes us to the base of the summit craters, at almost 3,000 meters above sea level. While waiting for sunset, accompanied by an experienced volcanological guide, we explore a lunar landscape of recent lava formations and extinct craters, gaining a better understanding of the forces that shape Etna’s volcanic activity and what it means to live on the slopes of an active volcano.
As the light begins to soften, we position ourselves to photograph the vastness of the volcanic plateau and the dramatic transition from day into night. Here, sunset is not a single moment but a process: colors slowly fade from the sky while the ground still retains the warmth of the day. After twilight, we begin our descent on foot, our headlamps illuminating the volcanic ash beneath our steps and creating an almost surreal atmosphere.
Overnight in Catania.
*** The Etna excursion is accompanied at all times by an experienced volcanological guide, ensuring maximum safety as well as an in-depth understanding of the area. The descent to the parking area involves approximately 900 meters of elevation loss and takes place mostly on volcanic ash, making it feel similar to walking down an immense sand dune. High-ankle hiking boots are therefore required. Although the route does not involve any particular technical difficulty, its length and the altitude make the excursion unsuitable for people with heart or knee problems. An alternative program will be arranged for anyone who is unable or prefers not to take part in the excursion.
Day 3
Before dawn, we head to Torre Santa Tecla, a historic square watchtower dating back to the 16th century, perched above the sea on the volcanic cliffs of Acireale. Looking more like a corner of Scotland than Sicily, this simple location will give us the opportunity to begin working with long exposures, strong backlight and the deep contrasts and colors typical of a volcanic landscape.
We return to the hotel for breakfast and check-out before heading toward Messina, where we board the hydrofoil that will take us into the Aeolian Islands. The journey to Lipari takes approximately two and a half hours, during which the silhouettes of the volcanic archipelago will slowly begin to emerge on the horizon.
Once we arrive in Lipari, the largest and most vibrant of the Aeolian Islands, we are welcomed by the vivid colors and unmistakable scents of the Mediterranean. After leaving our luggage at the hotel, we set out to explore the historic center, walking along the lively Corso Vittorio Emanuele to the picturesque seaside square of Marina Corta, animated by traditional fishing boats and outdoor cafés.
For sunset, we make our way to the island’s high cliffs, looking out toward the iconic sea stacks and the distant islands of Filicudi and Alicudi, the wildest and least populated of the Aeolian Islands. After the sun has disappeared beyond the horizon, we end the day with dinner in a traditional local restaurant, discovering the authentic flavors of Aeolian cuisine.
Overnight in Lipari.
Day 4
Before dawn, we make our way to one of the most scenic viewpoints on the island, with a postcard view over the town of Lipari and the imposing silhouette of Vulcano rising in the background. On particularly clear mornings, even the distant outline of Mount Etna can appear on the horizon—the final touch to an already idyllic composition.
Later in the morning, we continue our journey toward Stromboli, the “Lighthouse of the Mediterranean,” an island with a raw and magnetic character. Arriving by hydrofoil immediately reveals the wild nature of this place: a near-perfect volcanic cone rising from the deep blue sea, with a plume of smoke almost constantly crowning its summit.
After checking into our hotel, we begin exploring the maze of narrow whitewashed streets of Stromboli village, with their unmistakable Aeolian character. There are no cars here, only small three-wheeled vehicles and Piaggio Apes moving through the village.
In the late afternoon, we meet our certified volcanological guide and begin the ascent toward the 400-meter viewpoint, following trails overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Having a private guide allows us to manage the pace and stops according to our needs, whether to photograph along the way or simply catch our breath.
As dusk falls, we reach the viewpoint overlooking the Sciara del Fuoco, and the experience turns into a true photographic hunt. Surrounded by darkness, the volcano reveals its full power: accompanied by deep rumbles, sudden fountains of lava burst from the active vents, tearing through the darkness and throwing incandescent fragments and glowing volcanic material into the sky. Waiting for each explosion becomes an essential part of both the challenge and the fascination of photographing Stromboli.
Working with our guide to position our tripods in complete safety, we can experiment with long exposures to trace the glowing trajectories of the volcanic fragments, or use faster shutter speeds to freeze the rough texture of the erupting magma.
Our guide will allow us all the time we need to capture the dynamics of the eruptions before accompanying us back down the mountain after dark, ensuring maximum safety throughout the descent.
Overnight in Stromboli.
Day 5
The morning and early afternoon will be dedicated to relaxing and enjoying the slow rhythm of island life, giving us time to recharge and fully appreciate the unique atmosphere of Stromboli. After lunch in a traditional local restaurant, where we can sample some of the flavors of Aeolian cuisine, we will take a walk along the island’s small black-sand coves, looking for interesting views and compositions before the light begins to fade.
At sunset, we will move to a panoramic location for an astrophotography session aimed at capturing the volcano beneath the night sky. With light pollution reduced to a minimum and only the glow of the eruptions illuminating the darkness, we will set up our tripods on the volcanic ground and wait for twilight to reveal a spectacular night sky. At this time of year, the core of the Milky Way is still visible in the early part of the night, shortly before disappearing below the horizon.
The scene becomes particularly striking during the eruptions: the sudden red glow of the explosions illuminates the lower part of the frame, creating a dramatic contrast with the cooler light of the stars above. It will be an opportunity to capture a powerful image combining, in a single frame, the activity of the volcano and the clarity of the Aeolian night sky.
Overnight in Stromboli.
Day 6
It is time to leave the Aeolian Islands behind and continue our journey with a complete change of scenery, heading toward the green heart of Calabria. Back on the mainland, we gradually leave the coast and the rugged peaks of the Aspromonte behind as we make our way into the Serre Calabresi, a mountain range forming a natural bridge between Calabria’s main mountain massifs. As we gain altitude, the Mediterranean landscape gives way to dense, imposing vegetation until we reach Serra San Bruno, a secluded mountain town at around 870 meters above sea level, surrounded by ancient forests of silver fir and beech trees.
In the afternoon, we visit the renowned Charterhouse of Santo Stefano di San Bruno, a place of deep spirituality where monastic architecture blends into the pristine mountain landscape. We walk along the trails around the “Lake of Miracles” and through the monumental silver fir forest, immersed in an atmosphere that seems suspended in time—an ideal setting for our first environmental photographs of this new stage of the journey.
Dinner in a traditional mountain restaurant and overnight in Serra San Bruno.
Day 7
Today, our alarm will ring long before sunrise for one of the most intense and visceral photographic experiences of the journey: a visit to the charcoal makers of Serra San Bruno.
The charcoal makers of these mountains are the custodians of an ancient craft, passed down from generation to generation since the time of the Carthusian monks. Their work consists of transforming beech and fir wood from the surrounding forests into charcoal through a slow and demanding pre-industrial process. Rather than simply burning the wood, the technique relies on carbonization with very little oxygen. The charcoal makers build the scarazzi by hand: monumental geometric mounds made from carefully stacked logs, then sealed beneath a thick layer of leaves and damp earth. Once the fire is lit through an opening at the top, the structure must be watched day and night for more than a week, with the airflow carefully controlled through small holes in the earth so that the mound continues to smolder without ever catching fire.
We venture deep into the forest in the middle of the night, reaching the production sites while darkness is still complete. Here, the air immediately becomes thick with the pungent smell of smoke and slowly burning wood. In the pitch-black forest, the only natural sources of light will be the reddish glow filtering through the openings in the scarazzi.
For photographers, the atmosphere is extraordinarily dramatic. We watch the dark silhouettes of the charcoal makers moving against dense clouds of white smoke rising from the mounds. Before dawn, as the first blue light begins to filter through the branches, the visual contrast becomes exceptional. We photograph faces marked by hard work and soot, illuminated by the beams of our torches or by the glow of burning embers. The rhythmic sound of shovels, the steam rising as water is thrown onto the hot charcoal, and shafts of light cutting through the smoke will give us the opportunity to create powerful images documenting an ancient craft that has survived largely unchanged.
Once our sunrise session is over, we return to the hotel for a well-earned breakfast and a change of clothes before continuing toward the southern end of Calabria. We leave the Serre behind and descend toward the coast, heading for Reggio Calabria. After checking into our hotel and taking some time to freshen up, in the late afternoon we travel south to one of the most remarkable landscapes of the Grecanica area: the ghost village of Pentedattilo.
Pentedattilo appears almost unreal, perched beneath a rocky formation resembling a gigantic hand of stone. The village takes its name from the Greek words penta and daktylos—“five fingers”—and lies at the foot of Monte Calvario, a sandstone monolith sculpted by erosion into the shape of an open hand reaching toward the sky, seemingly holding a cluster of abandoned houses in its palm. Almost entirely uninhabited since the 1970s, this suspended place retains a haunting and magnetic beauty, made even more evocative by the dark legends that have surrounded it for centuries.
At sunset, warm light illuminates the stone houses and the amphitheater of sandstone pinnacles, transforming an already surreal and unique landscape into one of the most iconic scenes of our journey.
Overnight in Reggio Calabria.
Day 8
At sunrise, we explore the Calanchi di Palizzi, a still little-known area of badlands where thousands of years of erosion have sculpted the clay terrain into rhythmic lines and sharp, almost sculptural ridges. The soft, low-angle light of the early morning will be ideal for photography, allowing us to focus on depth, the geometric repetition of the folds in the landscape, and the subtle tonal transitions from chalky whites to the warmer colors of the earth.
Later in the day, we cross to the Tyrrhenian coast to reach Scilla and its historic fishing district of Chianalea, often described as the “Little Venice of the South.” Here, the atmosphere changes completely: narrow alleys suddenly opening onto the sea, old fishermen’s houses built directly on the rocks and touched by the water, and constantly changing reflections bouncing between stone walls and the surface of the sea make the village an open-air playground for street and documentary photography.
As evening approaches, we position ourselves to photograph Chianalea at sunset and into the following blue hour. This will be the most atmospheric part of the session, as the warm lights of the village gradually come on and blend with the last natural glow of the sky and the sea, offering the opportunity to create images rich in atmosphere and visual storytelling. We end the day with dinner in a restaurant built on stilts directly over the sea.
Overnight in Reggio Calabria.
Day 9
We begin the day with an early-morning photography session in the historic center of Reggio Calabria, turning our lenses toward the monumental centuries-old trees lining its waterfront. These enormous specimens of Ficus macrophylla are famous for their immense aerial roots, descending from the branches and anchoring themselves into the ground like twisting columns, creating an urban jungle immersed in an almost motionless atmosphere. The clean morning light will filter through the intricate network of trunks and monumental canopies, revealing unique natural geometries and strong contrasts between light and shadow. Beyond this green barrier, the view opens across the Strait toward Sicily, with the unmistakable profile of Mount Etna always present in the distance.
After breakfast, we begin our journey north, following the coastline along the Costa Viola and Costa degli Dei until we reach beautiful Tropea. We dedicate the entire afternoon to exploring its historic center, dramatically perched on a tuff cliff overlooking the sea. We wander through its narrow streets in search of the most interesting views, scouting the best panoramic viewpoints and working on street photography among historic palaces and the small details of everyday local life.
At sunset, we position ourselves high above the imposing cliffs to photograph Tropea suspended between rock and sea. This will be the ideal moment to capture the famous Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola as the warm sunlight gradually gives way to the pastel shades of twilight, creating one of the most iconic and atmospheric images of the day. As the sun disappears beyond the horizon, our gaze will inevitably return, with a touch of nostalgia, to the unmistakable silhouette of Stromboli, clearly visible offshore in the distance.
Overnight in Reggio Calabria.
Day 10
The final day of our journey is dedicated to our return to Sicily, leaving Reggio Calabria and making our way to Catania Airport in time for our international flights.
We head to the port of Villa San Giovanni to board the ferry. During the twenty-minute crossing of the Strait of Messina, we will remain on the open deck to photograph the two shores as they pass before us, the trails left on the water and the constant movement of boats through this narrow stretch of sea.
As we continue along the highway toward Catania, the profile of Mount Etna will once again dominate the landscape, bringing our journey full circle. We find ourselves once more in front of the volcano where it all began and whose unmistakable silhouette has remained a constant thread throughout our itinerary.
Etna, Stromboli and Calabria
Days: 10
Dates: 17.09.27
Price € : contact us
Language: English
Tour Leader: Marco Bottigelli
To book this tour send an email to mail@marcobottigelli.com or fill the form below
Tour Operator: Brockmann Photo & Travel
Included in the price
- Constant assistance and tutoring by professional photographer Marco Bottigelli (in English)
- Comfortable accommodations in 3 and 4 stars hotels (twin room shared)
- Cars rental and fuel
- Ferry across the Messina Strait
- All breakfasts
- Bread making class in Altamura
- Wine tasting class in Matera
- Basic insurance
Excluded from the price
- Individual arrival to/from Palermo and Bari airports (Italy)
- Visa, fees and flight taxes, excess baggage costs
- Meals not included
- Single room occupancy
- Personal expenses
- Extra insurances such as travel cancellation insurance etc.
- Whatever not listed in “Included in the price”
Want to join?
Fill the form and I'll get back to you very soon!
