The denomination “ DIETROSERRA” derives from the location of the holiday houses, placed just behind  Monte Serra. The origins of Monte Serra are ancient and they can be traced back to one of the many eruptions from the sides of Mt Etna during  its millennial history. Many of these eruptions have determined the formation of adventitious cones.

Monte Serra is itself an adventitious cone that had likely originated from an eruption of so-called “eccentric” nature,  when a volcanic conduit is completely independent from that of the central crater. One the one hand, from the crater that had just opened, originated a lava flow reaching down the valley ( where centuries later was built  the country of Viagrande). On the other, from another vent placed further north, gas and lapilli (fragmented rocks) flew out.

After the eruption, when the mini volcano became extinct, the volcanic conduit emptied, which provoked the collapse of the highest part of the crater and of a side of the north-east vent. Hence this is why  Monte Serra has the typical horseshoe shape that we find in many adventitious cones  of Etna.

Monte Serra is one of the furthest craters from the central crater of Etna and by far the closest to the sea.

The especially humid climate and the proximity to the sea facilitate the growth of a thriving Mediterranean vegetation at Leccio, Olivastro and Carob. There are a few species of Oak, Chestnut and Bagolaro, while the blooming broom is truly mesmerizing.

The silence that surrounds the countryside is occasionally interspersed by the acute singing of birds of prey, in particular the Kestrel, the Poiana and the Assiolo.