Italy will open its borders from June

Italy's tourism industry can breathe again this week. Italy is stepping up efforts to restore the normality lost in early March, when it imposed a nationwide lockdown. This week, the Council of Ministers decided that regions whose data show the situation is under control may allow people to enter and leave from other European countries from 3 June. The decree stresses that travel from abroad will be limited only by measures imposed by other countries and “with compliance with restrictions arising from the regulation of the European Union and international obligations”.

As of June 3, the Italian government will reopen its borders to European Union travellers, cancelling the 14-day mandatory quarantine for foreign visitors.

In addition to the reopening of borders with all countries of the European Union, Monaco and Switzerland, existing restrictions on beach visits and other tourist activities are being eased.

When can we travel abroad?

Although nothing specific has yet been reported on the possibility of start travelling abroad, it is expected that it will be by the end of June or early July depending on the phase of each autonomous community.

Unconcerned by travellers' movements, Etna has remained active, emitting gases and lava from one crater, with some tremors at night.

Etna is the most active volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world.

Our trip to eastern Sicily and the islands of Stromboli, Vulcano and Lipari  with departures until November, combines spectacular Mediterranean walks, insights into volcanic activity and visits to Greek, Roman and Byzantine archaeological remains.

The trip suits anyone accustomed to walking, although the ascents of Stromboli and Etna are more demanding because of the elevation gain and terrain. Walks last 3 to 6 hours, with up to 1000 metres of ascent and 1360 metres of descent, including some steep sections. There are no particular technical difficulties, but you should be familiar with walking in natural terrain.

Several walks cross very loose volcanic terrain, so telescopic walking poles are highly recommended.

In this trip to Sicily and Aeolian Islands if the booking was made at least 60 days before departure and a shared room was requested, Viajes Tuareg do not apply the single room supplement.

Mount Etna

The ascent of Etna must be booked locally. Weather and volcanic conditions determine whether it can go ahead, and a local volcano guide is essential. The trekking to Etna does not require exceptional fitness. The round trip covers 15 kilometres with 1,346 metres of ascent, but altitude may be our greatest challenge: the route climbs above 3,000 metres. The whole route is usually done in 6 hours under normal weather conditions.

Warm clothing, a hat and even gloves are recommended for both the optional Etna ascent and the included route around its foothills. In autumn There may be snow on the summit route, with the route becoming a true winter ascent only for mountaineers experienced in this type of ascent.

The Stromboli volcano

Stromboli Island reaches a maximum height of 2,000 metres, but the volcano is just over 900 metres high. No special physical preparation is needed, and altitude sickness is not a problem.

A 4-hour ‘walk’ that takes place at dusk in order to see a large horseshoe-shaped depression on the northwestern face of the volcanic cone. “Sciara del fuoco” as the first approach to the volcanic activity of the island. Blocks of lava and fire descend through it to the sea when the volcano awakens, terrorizing the neighboring inhabitants.

The tsunami threat is real in this part of the Mediterranean. Densely populated Sicily and the Calabrian coast were already affected by Stromboli’s last eruption in 2002.

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