Mount Vesuvius is perhaps best known for its eruption in Roman times (24 August 79 AD), described by Pliny the younger, when Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed. The eruption left a large crater that can still be visited today. It is a currently dormant volcano that occasionally emits streams of lava (last minor eruption in the 1950's; although its dormant state could be an indication of a build-up of pressure and a coming explosive eruption). At the top of the volcano is a crater rim that affords a view into the crater that still fumes slightly. Besides that you will have (only on clear days, but the mountain is notoriously covered in fog or clouds) a stunning panorama overseeing the Bay of Naples, Naples, Capri, Ischia, the edge of the Amalfi Coast and more.
Be warned: Going there will make you sweat a lot and set you back about 15€ (including private taxi up the hill).
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Vesuvius
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Vesuvius - updated May 2024
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Vesuvius Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
