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The Mount
VESUVIUS
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"MUST" step before or after visiting Pompeii
DIRECTIONS:By Car
On the Napoli’s Tangenziale you will pass exits such as Agnano,
Fuorigrotta, Arenella....etc.
At the end of the Tangenziale you will be required to pay a Lire
1,100 toll.
Continue past the toll booth, passing the Capodichino airport exit.
Here the road splits into two Autostradas.
Autostrada A-l to Roma (North) and Autostrada A-3 to Salerno (South).
Take Autostrada-A-3 towards Salerno, passing exit to Ercolano.
Exit at Pompei Scavi (Ruins). (There is a fee of approx. lire 2,000).
Follow signs to Vesuvio. This road will take you all the way.By
trainTake the Circumvesuviana train from Naples, Piazza Garibaldi,
(Lire 2,000 one way) towards Sorrento, getting off at Pompei V.M.
(Villa dei Misteri).
From here, take the bus marked Vesuvio (Lire 5,000) that will take
you all the way.
Please note: Above prices are approximate.
A LITTLE HISTORYMount Vesuvius, alias "terror and pride
of Naples", situated 12 Km Southeast of Naples, on the most familiar
feature in the Neapolitan landcape, is one of the smallest active
volcanoes in the world (1277 meters; 1202 meters before 1944), but
certainty the most famous.
Mount Vesuvius is the only active volcano in the continent of Europe.
Within the volcano is an enormous crater, broken on the West, called
the "Atrio del Cavallo" (The Horse's Atrium) and "Vaile
dell’Inferno" (Valley of Hell).Before 79 A-D. the lower slopes
of the Vesuvius were planted with vineyards above which was a thick
belt of woods noted for their wild boars.
In 63 A-D. a violent earthquake caused serious damage in Pompei, Hercolaneum
and Naples. This was followed by other shocks, but in 79 A-D. the
central cone of Vesuvius blew out and while Pompeii and Stabiae were
buried with ashes, lapillos, or small stones, Hercolaneum instead
was drowned in a torrent of mud. The eruption is vividly described
in two letters from younger Plinio to Tacitus.
For the next 1550 years only nine unimportant eruptions are recorded
and, after a period of absolute quiescence set in, the mountain was
again cultivated and the crater covered with trees; but on 16 December
1631 came a violent eruption which destroyed nearly all the towns
at the foot of the mountain. The lava reached the sea near Portici
and killed over 3000 people.
During the next 300 years there were 23 recorded eruptions at intervals
from 1 to 30 years. With the eruption of March 1944 the whole shape
of the crater was altered, the little inner cone disappeared, and
in the following months the main fissure closed.
Since 1944, the last time there was an eruption, the crater lost its
plume of smoke, and only a few occasional "fumarole" (fumes)
give warning that Vesuvius is still active. An observatory, equipped
with seismic apparatus and meteorologic instruments is constantly
monitoring any inside-the-earth movement.Mount Vesuvius can be reached
by car up to the "Punto Ristoro" where parking space is
provided. A dusty path will bring you up to the crater where any movement
is strictly supervised by the local official guide. Comfortable, flat
walking shoes are recommended. (There is a Lire 6,000 fee per person,
approx. 45 mm, walk uphill).Open to the public: Daily from 09:00 until
one hour before sunset.Please note: In case of bad weather or strong
winds, Mount Vesuvius may be closed to the public. |
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