Mt. Vesuvius and the National Park
t is among the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, its destructive power has made much talk of itself in the past up to the present day. In fact, the eruption of 79 AD it is perhaps the most famous of the known eruptions, but it is also the first written record of a volcanic eruption. It could be said that volcanology was born at the foot of this mountain. Its last eruption occurred in 1944, after that the volcano entered its resting phase while remaining still active. Neapolitan people fear and love this giant volcano, in fact it is the symbol of the whole Gulf of Naples, but also the most dangerous threat, due that millions of people live at the foot of this mountain. Numerous stories and legends are linked to Vesuvius, the most known is about Herculaneum, Pompeii and Stabia, but also one about the patron of Naples. San Gennaro’s legend tells that the saint stopped with his prays the lava flooding from hitting the city and Neapolitans for celebrating the miracle every year they make a religious ritual to find out if Vesuvius will erupt or not.
Vesuvius National Park
Is a large volcanic complex called Somma-Vesuvius, which was founded in 1995: Monte Somma is an ancient volcanic mass, created by continued eruptive cycles over 25,000 years and Vesuvius is a live volcano located within the ancient caldera. During the eruptions, the Vesuvius Gran Cone originated, which in recent centuries has been a pressure valve for the volcano. In fact, historical testimony tells us that the Grand Cone was not the only vent to exhale gas, or to expel pyroclastic materials, magma and ashes.
The great volcanic complex is a typical example of a fenced volcano: the steep rim is Monte Somma, with its semi-circular shape, surrounding Vesuvius on the whole northern side, while the south side is exposed to the land below. The ridge of Monte Somma is formed by jagged peaks called “Cognoli” by locals, while its surface is covered by groove valleys locally called “Lagni”. The caldera of the ancient volcano is about 15 km in diameter and consists of the Great Cone and Giant Valley (the gorge that separates the Monte Somma and Vesuvius), which includes the “Valle dell’Inferno” (Valley of Hell) and the Atrio del Cavallo (Horse Atrium). The vegetation is particularly rich here and indigenous species are sheltered by the two mountainous structures.