Mount Vesuvius

The summit reaches 1281 meters (4203 feet) above the Gulf of Naples, displaying a crater 450 meters (1476 feet) wide and 300 meters (984 feet) deep, with fumaroles actively releasing gases from several vents along the inner crater walls, while the landscape shows solidified lava flows and volcanic ash deposits from multiple eruptions across the slopes.

The eruption in 79 destroyed the Roman settlements of Pompeii and Herculaneum, preserving them beneath volcanic deposits for archaeological study. Subsequent major eruptions occurred in 1631, claiming approximately 4000 lives, followed by significant activity in 1906 and the most recent documented eruption in 1944, which marked the beginning of modern monitoring systems.

The Osservatorio Vesuviano, established in 1841 as the world's first volcanological observatory, continues monitoring the volcano that threatens approximately three million people in the surrounding area, while its eruption patterns have shaped understanding of pyroclastic flows and explosive volcanic activity across multiple scientific disciplines and international research programs.

Visitors reach the summit through a trail network beginning at the Vesuvius National Park entrance at 1000 meters (3281 feet) elevation, requiring approximately 30 minutes of hiking. The paths close during extreme weather conditions or heightened seismic activity. Tickets must be purchased online or at the park station, and guided tours provide geological insights along the route with rest areas positioned at intervals.

The double structure features Mount Somma's ancient crater partially enclosing the younger cone, separated by the Valle del Gigante valley. This formation resulted from the collapse of an older caldera approximately 17000 years ago, creating a horseshoe-shaped ring still visible as the northern rim today, exposing geological layers from different eruptive phases across millennia of volcanic development.

Location: Metropolitan City of Naples

Elevation above the sea: 1,297 m

Made from material: tephrite

Address: Mount Vesuvius, 80044 Ottaviano, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy 80040

GPS coordinates: 40.82140,14.42620

Latest update: November 27, 2025 19:16