Photo above StockSnap – Pixabay
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The night between August 10th and 11th is perhaps the most magical of the year. Although the tradition of the “Midsummer Night” has recently gained traction, the wonder of the Night of St Lawrence remains unsurpassed among the typical Italian summer customs. Those who can, on that night, go camping in areas far from the cities, with few lights around. This is precisely to enjoy the spectacle of shooting stars, also known as the “St Lawrence’s Tears “. It goes without saying that Mount Etna is a highly popular destination on this occasion.

Mistakes you shall never make

Don’t make the mistake of setting out on an adventure without a specific destination and location in mind. Thousands of people will gather on the volcano on the night of St Lawrence, and you may get stuck in endless lines looking for a parking spot.

Don’t make the mistake of leaving too late. Instead, settle for spending an entire afternoon at high altitude on Etna, selecting your ideal spot for stargazing. In short, make sure you’re already comfortably seated when it gets dark and the screaming crowds arrive. Head up to the mountains around 5:00 PM and wait up there until evening.

Don’t make the mistake of choosing tourist locations if you don’t want to find yourself surrounded by hundreds of noisy people who will surely ruin the magical moment. Study the mountain carefully, perhaps asking a good guide for advice, and find hidden, little-known spots that will be all yours.

Where and when to admire the stars

The best date for shooting stars, as mentioned, is the night of August 10th. However, by checking with expert astronomy websites ahead of time, you can figure out how many nights the “star shower” will last. And perhaps choose to set up camp in the mountains on the night of the 11th, or even the night before, August 9th. Shooting stars dates vary. Choose yours!

Where is the best place to stargaze on Etna? Definitely Piano Vetore (South Etna), where the astronomical observatory is also located. But if you want to avoid the crowds, head further: to the Santa Barbara refuge or the Milìa trail (a few kilometers further down the valley). It would also be wonderful to admire shooting stars from the rounded peaks of the Sartorius craters, on the volcano’s north flank. Often, on the night of St Lawrence, Etna’s mountain guides organize their traditional torchlight procession, which creates a fascinating “lava” effect for those who admire it from afar.

Paradoxically, it’s best not to go stargazing from the summit craters, even though they are the highest points: the vapors emitted by the volcano make the night sky unclear.

How to admire them…good!

To admire shooting stars properly, you need to be well-equipped. Choose the location in advance, as mentioned, and set up camp there with sleeping bags or tents (or both). Bring along some food, water, binoculars, telescopes, or even just good cameras with excellent zoom lenses and appropriate filters. If you want to take professional photos, however, you’ll need to purchase special tripods and rotation devices ahead of time so you can follow the entire celestial arc at night.

It may seem like a pointless recommendation, but it still needs to be said: don’t photograph the stars with your cell phone, and certainly not with a flash! (PHOTOS BY StockSnap Pixabay and Grazia Musumeci)