Mt. Vesuvius

Description

Mt. Vesuvius looms over every bit of the Naples region. The only active volcano on the mainland continent of Europe, Mt. Vesuvius is over twelve thousand years old. Its highest point is 1,270 meters high and records show that before 79 A.D. its slopes were probably covered by forest. At its foot the lush soil made cultivation of various crops easy, especially vines.

A visit to the volcano means driving up a narrow winding road with easy-to-follow signs, until you stop at the parking lot. Walk to a hut where you can purchase tickets and hike beyond a gate. From here, the trek to the peak takes about twenty minutes, souvenir shops and caffès available along the way. On a clear day the breathtaking view of Naples as well as the three islands of Capri, Ischia, and Procida make the steep climb very pleasurable.

Once at the top, the inside of the crater is filled with dirt – sorry, you can’t see bubbling lava. However, the experience can feel a bit daring only because vulcanologists anticipate another eruption sometime soon. Interestingly, that doesn’t prevent Neapolitans from building a sprawling metropolis around the skirts of this active volcano.

The modern artist Andy Warhol painted many images of the volcano. His original works of Mt. Vesuvius can be visited at both the National Museum of Capodimonte and the modern art museum MADRE in downtown Naples.

Contributor: Barbara Zaragoza

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