This is the first WHS I saw and visited outside of my home country and possibly the WHS I revisited the most. It is also the first one I had a souvenir from, and it introduced me to the world of geology.

My first primary school outing was a 3 hour flyover flight over Mt Etna. I still clearly remember the red molten magma spewing out of the snow capped volcano crater. It was a mindboggling experience as I wasn't expecting to see snow and lava at the same time. In my imagination they were two separate landscapes. Another image which I'm sure is still relevant is that of the many locals building their homes anew, literally on top of their previous houses engulfed by lava.

The volcano's size is quite impressive and it is quite common for tourists and locals alike to get lost or require the intervention of a rescue team. So if you plan to venture a bit off the beaten track, consider going with a knowledgeable guide. It's relatively easy to get close to the top using the cable car and eruptions take place practically every year. To appreciate any OUV this WHS might have, make sure to visit some of the several geological features already mentioned by other reviewers. That said, the best photo opportunities are from quite a distance away. Probably the most iconic is the view from Taormina's Teatro Greco.

Once you land at Catania airport you can't miss the volcano and at night watching the molten lava in the dark is another unforgettable experience. Lately Mt Etna has been more active than usual and ash clouds led to the local airports closing down for safety reasons. A recent study has hit the headlines especially in Malta as it underlined the concrete possibility that the volcano may trigger a tsunami as it is slowly but surely sliding into the Mediterranean and collapsing under its own weight. Some believe that this might have already occured in Neolithic times basically killing the Neolithic people who built the Megalithic temples of Malta and Gozo.

All in all, even though it's an impressive volcano to visit, I don't think it deserves its place on the list. Worldwide there are much more iconic and important volcanoes which are not inscribed or even nominated. Moreover, there are several 'better' European volcanoes already on the list such as Teide NP in the Canary islands or Vulcano and Stromboli in Italy's Eolian islands.