A man who has always strived for naturalistic knowledge and who has always studied the geology of the area, Mario Gemmellaro is a significant figure for Nicolosi.
Discovering his life
Mario Gemmellaro was born in Nicolosi on July 20, 1773. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in law school but soon abandoned his studies. The early death of his parents forced him to care for his brothers and sisters. His uncle Raimondo encouraged him to study natural sciences at his brother's office. CarloMario Gemmellaro held several public offices. He promoted a series of public works and encouraged innovation in education.
He began his research on Etna around 1800, inspired by contact with naturalist travellers. In 1804, he built a small house called Very grateful. Seven years later, another one was built, called the "English House" or "Gemmellaro House." This latter one constituted the first high-altitude scientific observatory in the world, for studying volcanic phenomena. Furthermore, it, together with the Very grateful, It was the nucleus of the Volcanological Observatory of theEtna.
The naturalist was also interested in measuring heights, the differences of which can be observed in the boiling point of water. He joined various academies, such as the Gioenia of Catania, the Columbian Institute of Washington, and those of Naples and Palermo. He died, also in Nicolosi, on April 12, 1839.
Mario Gemmellaro: the legacy he left behind
He paved the way for subsequent systematic observations of Etna. He had the very free to accommodate volcano enthusiasts and scholars. A small house was also set up for mules, with tools and furniture provided by Gemmellaro himself. The "English House," however, is so called because some Anglo-Saxon officials financed it.
Mario Gemmellaro, with his studies, has demonstrated that Etna is actually a cluster of volcanoes, as it has multiple vents. When the volcanoes reach very high peaks, according to truly reliable data, they collapse. This creates a caldera depression: this is the case of Bove ValleyIn 1823 Gemmellaro, together with John Marshall, led an expedition. This involved the descent towards the "Grotta delle colombe", the mouth of the 1669 eruption, near the Red MountainsIt reached a depth of 120 m, leaving a plaque: “Marius Gemmellarus primus ima haec in tartara venit”. The naturalist always showed a warm welcome to travelers and visitors. He hosted some in his home in Nicolosi, including Alexandre Dumas. For those wishing to visit Mount Etna, he organized, starting in 1804, a group of guides and muleteers, who knew its rugged paths.
Not just a volcanologist: among other public works, he financed the water supply cistern, still visible today in the town's main square. After his death, the two houses for the Observatory were abandoned. In 1862, the Prince of Piedmont, the future King Umberto I, donated the English House to renovate. Mario Gemmellaro is a figure who has always strived to enhance nature and the surrounding area. He helped shape Etna's identity for Nicolosi, recognizing its symbolic value and expanding it.
