The sides of Etna and the nearby hills are filled with fertile soil. That, alongside the great weather conditions, makes for great plantlife. The Sicilian farmers use these conditions to their greatest potential, producing good of the highest quality, which are certainly worth purchasing, when in Italy. All the unique rocks of the island are also commonly used in architecture and jewellery making. What should you buy on Etna or in Catania? What to bring back home with you from Etna?
Fire of Etna / Sospiro dell’Etna
Italy is not necessarily known for high percentage alcohol – apart from the famed Grappa and the Fire of Etna. It’s a 70% liquor with a cherry taste, specifically coloured to fit the look of magma and fire. It costs around 15-17 EUR for 0.5L, depending on the version sold in the shop. We bought ours very near Etna, in Zafferana Etnea, in the Oro d’Etna shop.
Flavoured honey from Etna
Honey, named ‘Etna Gold’. Most of the beekeepers come from Zafferana Etnea, and the apiaries there produce the best honey in all of Italy (according to the locals, at least). The Sicilians decided to spice things up a bit by adding different flavours. Shops in Catania offer such flavours as: pistachio honey, melon honey, orange honey, lemon honey, strawberry honey, truffle honey, nut honey or even eucalyptus honey. How much does a flavoured honey cost in Sicily? The prices start around 1,9 EUR per 45 grams, 3,5 EUR for 125 grams and 6,5 EUR for 250 grams.
Flavoured olive oils from Sicily
Similarly to honey, the conditions for olive in Sicily are fantastic, thanks to the brilliant soil and high temperatures. Ingredients such as basil, oregano, rosemary, onion and chilli peppers are added to the Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for instance, made near Etna. How much does the flavoured olive oil cost in Sicily? The price for 0.1 L is 3,7 EUR, for 0.25L it’s 5,5 EUR. We highly recommend garlic olive oil!
Pistachios and all the pistachio products from Sicily. Pistacchio di Bronte
If we call the honey of Etna ‘gold’, then pistachios must be the diamonds. It’s the most popular product from Sicily. It’s added to nearly everything – desserts, Cannoli, Ciuri-Ciuri ice creams or more dry meals, like pasta. We can even find pistachio pesto in shops, which we can add to our Italian pasta. For the fans of alcoholic beverages, there’s also a pistachio liquor, for 14,50 EUR.
Lava rock jewellery
A gift in the form of volcanic rock jewellery is sure to leave an impression. Hence why it may be a good idea to buy a jewellery set when in Catania or in the Rifugio Giovanni Sapienza reserve. Lava rock jewellery has a characteristic raw, black look. It’s usually combined with gold or silver, and makes for a great gift.
Lava rock sculptures and figurines
Similarly to the jewellery case, Sicilian sculptors have plenty of material to make souvenirs out of. In every souvenir shop, we’ll find small, lava rock figurines, all in reasonable prices. Their biggest advantage is that it’s all handmade, so it’s a refreshing break from all the mass-produced rubbish. For more ambitious folk, there’s always the sculptor studio in the capital of Sicily.
Honey cosmetics from Etna
The honey from Etna can be also utilised in the cosmetics market. What honey cosmetics can you buy in Sicily? Well, primarily face creams, honey-based soaps, propolis soap and propolis oil. The prices of honey creams stay around 24 EUR for a 50 ml jar, 150 grams of soap cost roughly 2,4 EUR.
DOC wine from Etna
Life’s not just the strong stuff, and everyone knows that Sicily, and more generally Italy, has got great wines, especially the ones with the DOC certificate. We recommend the white Vena Aetna from Carricante (65%), Catarratto (20%), Minnella Bianca (15%), and the red De Rerum Aetna, from Nerello Mascalese (100%), all grown 500 meters above the sea level, in the volcanic soil on the eastern side of Etna. The red wine sits around 18 months in the Sicilian walnut barrels.
Puppets from Sicily, Pupi Siciliani
Used in the, so called, Opera dei Pupi, puppets have been a popular entertainment method for a few centuries now. Figurines of the royalty and the medieval knights adorn the shops in Catania. The tradition comes from two cities – Catania and Palermo. The main difference lies in size – the puppets from Sicily are much bigger. It’s quite a symbolic souvenir, so maybe consider getting one. The costs of a single puppet start at around 15 EUR, and can go up to even 200.
