Mount Vesuvius, Naples

Mount Vesuvius Tours & Tickets

Did you know? Mount Vesuvius

Vesuvius is the only active volcano on mainland Europe and has erupted dozens of times since destroying Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 AD.

The eruption that buried Pompeii reached temperatures of around 300°C and travelled at speeds exceeding 700 km/h, killing thousands in minutes.

At 1,281 metres, Vesuvius is significantly smaller than it was before 79 AD—the eruption blew away much of the summit cone.

The volcano last erupted in 1944 during World War II, when lava flows destroyed several villages and killed 26 people.

Vesuvius is home to a unique Mediterranean shrubland ecosystem found nowhere else, adapted to volcanic soil and regular tremors.

Around three million people live within the shadow of Vesuvius today, making it one of the world's most densely populated volcanic areas.

Mount Vesuvius: frequently asked questions