“Big Mama,” as Mount Etna is affectionately known, is the most active volcano in Europe but that doesn’t stop people from venturing up its sides to the visitors’ center. No ash or lava burps while we were there, but it did seem to give off a bit of steam! We stopped at the Benati Winery on the drive back down to taste their award-winning wines paired with appetizers. The slopes of Mount Etna are known as a prime wine-growing region thanks to the rich soils, and the Benati family’s winery has produced wine here since the late 1800s. Taormina was our next destination, perched on the side of a hill leading down to the sea. A brief stroll through the very crowded pedestrian area was followed by an enjoyable dinner at an outdoor café with Mount Etna visible in the distance.