Stromboli, an active volcano in the Aeolian Islands north of Sicily, can be depended on to shoot columns of hot lava into the air regularly.
So regularly, in fact, that it’s part of the itinerary of cruise ships leaving Sicily. They time departures for evening so they can sit off Stromboli to watch the fireworks against the night sky.
It’s quite a sight – and viewing it on a balmy Mediterranean night from the deck chair of a cruise ship is one of Italy’s most romantic experiences. But it’s become a bit more exciting in the past few days, with eruptions more frequent and violent than usual.
That’s what makes it especially exciting – it is after all a live and very active volcano – Italy’s most active -- and you never know what an uncorked hole in the earth may do. In 2002, Stromboli blew off one whole hillside of the island and sent it careening into the sea. With Stromboli behaving like this, there’s no way of predicting whether this could happen again, although scientists say it’s beginning to calm down a little.
Nearby Mount Etna, in Sicily is also an active volcano, but not nearly as volatile as the constantly rumbling Stromboli.
Whatever the island volcano is doing, it’s a highlight of a Mediterranean cruise – and it’s one show you don’t have to pay extra for a shore excursion to see!
