Mount Vesuvius, the sleeping giant in the Bay of Naples

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From our editorial team

Campania - Mount Vesuvius is more than just a volcano. It is a symbol of the destructive power of nature and the resilience of mankind. Vesuvius has influenced life in Campania for thousands of years and exudes a fascination for everyone: Around three million tourists travel here every year.

• The formation of Vesuvius
• The "Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio" National Park
• Important information for visiting Vesuvius and the nature reserve

The last time the volcano spewed was during the Second World War in 1944 - 80 B-25 bombers were destroyed at the nearby airbase. 26 people died due to injuries or asphyxiation during the evacuation. Since then, Vesuvius has been quiet, but remains on the lookout. Vesuvius is the only active volcano on the European mainland. And no volcano in the world is denser, closer and more populated. If it were to become active again, millions of lives would be at risk today. Greater Naples is the most densely populated area in Europe.

There have been two major eruptions of Mount Vesuvius in the last 2,000 years. In 79 AD, the volcano destroyed towns such as Pompeii and Herculaneum and large parts of the region. It is estimated that around 5,000 people died. In 1631, the eruption was similarly deadly. It is estimated that around 4,000 people died, mainly from the pyroclastic flows, lava flows travelling down the volcano at speeds of up to 700 km/h, ash deposits and mudflows. In addition, tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of animals were killed. Many villages and towns were severely, but not completely, damaged and rebuilt.

Vesuvius: a volcano within a volcano

Mount Vesuvius is a typical "volcano within a volcano". The outer, older cone of "Monte Somma" encloses the younger "Gran Cono", the caldera of Vesuvius, separated by the "Valle del Gigante". This complex structure, which dates back to the historic eruption in 79 AD, gives Vesuvius the appearance of a truncated cone. The crater of Vesuvius has a diameter of 450 metres and is 300 metres deep. The slopes of "Monte Somma" are criss-crossed with deep gullies formed by erosion and rainwater, very fertile and heavily overgrown.

Mount Vesuvius is part of a large volcanic area that formed almost 2 million years ago. The current shape of Mount Vesuvius is the result of various eruptions over the last 25,000 years. The original mountain, Monte Somma, was partially destroyed, the mountain peak was blown away and the "Gran Cono", the cauldron of Vesuvius, was formed.

The "Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio": protected area and cultural heritage

The Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio, founded on 5 June 1995, is almost as big as Manhattan - it covers 8,482 hectares. There are several protected areas in the Vesuvius National Park, which are intended to preserve the unique nature around the volcano. In addition to the unique flora and fauna, the geology around Mount Vesuvius is also unique, as is the archaeological significance of the region.

Between 2001 and 2003, the Vesuvius National Park created a "Vesuvius National Park Trail Network" consisting of 11 trails with a total length of 54 kilometres. There are six circular nature trails (nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8), an educational trail (no. 9), a panoramic trail (no. 6) and an agricultural trail (no. 7). Hikes are at your own risk. The hike to the crater is only possible with an entrance ticket. (Please also note the Hints here.)

The Vesuvius Observatory in Herculaneum

The Vesuvius Observatory, the first volcanological observatory in the world, was built in Ercolano in the 19th century. It is closely linked to the history of modern volcanology. The first seismic and volcanological research took place here, and scientists such as Palmieri, Melloni and Mercalli contributed significantly to the development of the discipline. Today, the observatory houses a museum with scientific instruments that were used in the past to study earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Important information for your visit to the "Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio"

Location: Vesuvius National Park,  Sentiero del Gran Cono, 80056 Ercolano NA, Italy

Opening hours: The park is open all year round, although opening times vary depending on the season. More info on the official site.

• At 11.68 euros, the official tickets from the national park for the hike along the crater of Mount Vesuvius are significantly cheaper than those offered by tour operators. Click here to go to the national park's ticket page.

• If you are travelling by car, there are paid parking spaces on site. Vesuvius is easily accessible by public transport. There is a direct connection from Naples to Pompeii (just under 6 euros), then a bus to Vesuvius.

• Important: You should wear sturdy shoes (even in summer), take plenty of water with you and be prepared for changing weather conditions. Be sure to check the current weather forecast before your hike.

• Be sure to order tickets online in advance, especially in the high season. Mobile phone reception on site is often very poor or non-existent.

• Path no. 4 from Herculaneum is currently closed. For path no. 6, access from Trecase is possible after providing personal details on site. The latest information is available directly from the National Park.

• To visit all other routes and areas of the National Park, requests must be sent by e-mail to the Vesuvius National Park Authority: epnv@pec.it and protocollo@epnv.it. The requests must state the reasons for access and the number and personal details of the persons involved.

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