Vesuvius Vulcano

Updated: 14 giu. 2025 02:35 GMT - refresh

Stratovolcano

Italia, 40.82°N / 14.43°E

+Ora locale:

Alba:

Tramonto:

Alba della luna:

Tramonto della luna:

Summit height: 1281 m

Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)

Last update: 8 lug 2024

Vesuvius volcano near Naples, Italy, seen from the air. The rim of the remnant of the older Somma volcano which collapsed in the 79 AD Plinian eruption is clearly visible to the left of the new Cono Grande cone with its crater.

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Typical eruption style: Mainly explosive. I detail, Vesuvius has 4 typical types of eruptions:
1. Plinian (such as the 79 AD Pompeii eruption): extremely large explosive eruptions producing several to several tens of cubic km of magma in a very short time.
2. Sub-Plinian explosive eruptions (such as the 1631 eruption). They are similar in style, but smaller than true Plinian events.
3. Strombolian and Vulcanian eruptions (several examples during the 1631-1944 period, e.g. 1906 and 1944). Such eruptions produce local heavy tephra falls, small pyroclastic flows, as well as large fire fountains and lava flows.
4. The smallest, but most frequent type of activity observed at Vesuvius is persistent Strombolian to Hawaiian-style activity that prevailed during much of the period between 1631 and 1944. This activity is usually limited to the central crater, and sometimes to flank vents. Lava flows and lava fountains have been frequently observed during such periods of activity.
Eruzioni del vulcano Vesuvius: 1796 - 1822, 1824 - 1834, 1835 - 1839, 1841 - 16 February 1850, 1854 - 1855, 1855 - 1861, 1864 - 1868, 1870 - 1872, 1875 - 1906, 1913 - 4 April 1944

Latest nearby earthquakes

Data e ora	Mag / Prof.	Distanza / Posizione
14 giu 01:11 (Tempo Universale)	1.2 1.9 km	25 km a ovest	Campi Flegrei	Info
venerdì, 13 giugno 2025 GMT (6 sismi)
14 giu 00:54 (GMT +2)	0.1 0.1 km	3.3 km a nord	Italy: Vesuvio	Info
14 giu 00:51 (GMT +2)	0.1 0.1 km	1.2 km a nord	Italy: Vesuvio	Info
13 giu 22:53 (GMT +2)	0.1 1.5 km	24 km a ovest	Flegrei	Info
13 giu 20:05 (GMT +2)	0.1 1 km	26 km a ovest	Italy: Flegrei	Info
13 giu 18:52 (GMT +2)	0.1 0 km	24 km a ovest	2.1 km a nord ovest da Bagnoli, Napoli, Campania, Italia	Info
13 giu 14:35 (GMT +2)	0.5 1.1 km	25 km a ovest	Italy: Flegrei	Info
domenica, 8 giugno 2025 GMT (1 sismo)
8 giu 05:14 (Tempo Universale)	2.1 1 km	24 km a ovest	Campi Flegrei	Info
sabato, 7 giugno 2025 GMT (1 sismo)
7 giu 21:45 (GMT +2)	2.5 0.3 km	24 km a ovest	Campi Flegrei	Info

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Background

Vesuvius ("Vesuvio" in Italian) is probably not only the most famous, but also one, if not the most dangerous volcano on Earth. The first eyewitness account of a volcanic eruption that has been preserved has come to us from Vesuvius: In 79 AD, after a century-long slumber, the volcano woke up with terrifying power in an eruption that buried several Roman towns like Pompeii and Herculaneum under several meters of ash. Today, parts of these cities have been excavated and are among the most remarkable archaeological sites of the world, allowing us to have an excellent view on Roman life and culture, where time and life had been frozen in a moment.

Geologically, Mt. Vesuvius, or more correctly the Somma-Vesuvius complex, is about 400,000 years old, as dating of lava sampled drilled from over 1,300 m depth have shown. Present-day Vesuvius is a medium-sized typical stratovolcano volcano reaching a height of 1,281 m a.s.l. It comprises the older volcano, the Somma, whose summit collapsed (likely during the 79 AD eruption), creating a caldera, and the younger volcano, Vesuvius, which since then has re-grown inside this caldera and formed a new cone. Although in a dormant phase at present, Vesuvius is an extremely active volcano and particular for its unusually varied style of activity: it ranges from Hawaiian-style emission of very liquid lava, extreme lava fountains, lava lakes and lava flows, over Strombolian and Vulcanian eruptions to violently explosive, Plinian eruptions that produce large pyroclastic flows.

When one thinks about Vesuvius volcano today, one aspect is eminent: due to the dense population surrounding it, and ever climbing higher and higher up on its slopes, it is certainly among Earth's most dangerous volcanoes. It is estimated that ore than 500,000 people live in the zone immediately threatened by a future eruption. When this happens is not known; it is possible that Vesuvius has entered into one of its typically century-long lasting phases of dormancy, but volcanoes can be unpredictable. The situation in the Gulf of Naples is further complicated by the presence of another highly active, and potentially as dangerous volcano: the Campi Flegrei, located immediately under a large part of the modern city of Naples proper.

Vesuvius Volcano Photos

Il vulcano Vesuvio vicino a Napoli, Italia, visto dall'aria. A sinistra del nuovo cono del Cono Grande con il relativo cratere è ben visibile il bordo dei resti del più a...

Sul bordo del cratere del vulcano Vesuvio, con bocche fumanti sullo sfondo. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Veduta aerea del vulcano Vesuvio (giugno 2017) (Photo: Martin Rietze)

Gli scavi della città romana di Ercolaneo sepolta dai flussi piroclastici provenienti dal vulcano Vesuvio nell'eruzione del 79 d.C. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

More photos

Eruzioni vulcaniche significative: Vesuvius volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Vesuvius has had at least 54 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 46 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 7 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Vesuvius volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Vesuvius volcano since around 1700. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Vesuvius can be found on the news page of Vesuvius volcano.

Data	Nota	VEI	Deceduti	Danni
1913 Lug 5 - 1944 Apr 4	Summit and upper flanks Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	3		sconosciuto
1944 Mar 27 (eruzione 1913 Lug 5 - 1944 Apr 4)	Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	2	27	sconosciuto	Info
1944 Mar 27: Roof collapses under tephra loads causing 12 deaths at Nocera and 9 at Pagani. Trees falling under tephra load or falling fragments at Terzigno killed 3. Two small boys were killed at San Sebastiano when lava exploded upon reaching a water tank. One elderly man killed himself, in sorrow at the desolation of San Sabastiano. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1875 Dic 18 - 1906 Apr 22	Summit and upper flanks Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	4?		sconosciuto
1906 Apr 4 (eruzione 1875 Dic 18 - 1906 Apr 22)	Tsunami registrato Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	3	350	sconosciuto	Info
1906 Apr 4: Nazarro suggests a total of 216 fatalities. Delme-Radcliff indicates approximately 300 killed and 300 injured: 105 killed and 90 injured in fall of church roof in San Giuseppe, 90 killed in collapse of house roofs, 90 killed in Ottaviano, 20 killed in San Gennaro, and about 50 others elsewhere including 14 killed in the collapse of the MOnte Oliveto Market in Naples. Lacroix indicates 3 deaths in a lava flow. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #1652 Lacroix, A. (1907): Eruption of Vesuvius in April 1906. Smithsonian Institution Annual Report for the Year End in June 30, 1906, p. 223-248. #1660 Nazarro, Antonio (1985): Il Vesuvio: storia naturale dal 1631 al 1944. Bollettino della Societa dei Naturalisti in Napoli, vol. XCIV, p. 99-124. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1905 Mar 10 (eruzione 1875 Dic 18 - 1906 Apr 22)	Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	2	1	sconosciuto	Info
1905 Mar 10: One guide killed on rim and another injured by explosion. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
?? 1874 Gen	Eruzione incerta	1		sconosciuto
1873 (episodio eruttivo 1873)	Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	0	9	sconosciuto	Info
1873: Spring of 1873. Date probably mistaken for 1872 (Vesuvius not in eruption in 1873) but Fisher reported that 2 tourists fell white fleeing a slight eruption at the summit and were covered with lava; 7 others died of suffocation. (reference #9675) Cited references #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1870 Dic - 1872 Apr 30	Summit and upper NW and south flanks Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	3		sconosciuto
1872 Apr 24 (eruzione 1870 Dic - 1872 Apr 30)	Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	3	9	sconosciuto	Info
1872 Apr 24: Young people in Valle del Inferno failed to notice retreat cut off by lava which trapped them between precipice of Monte Somma and active flow. Nazaro reported 9 killed and 11 injured, plus some fatalities from CO2. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #1660 Nazarro, Antonio (1985): Il Vesuvio: storia naturale dal 1631 al 1944. Bollettino della Societa dei Naturalisti in Napoli, vol. XCIV, p. 99-124. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1864 Feb 10 - 1868 Nov 26	Summit and upper SE flank Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	2		sconosciuto
1855 Dic 19 - 1861 Dic 31	Summit and SW flank (300-225 m) Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	3		sconosciuto
1854 Dic 14 - 1855 Mag 27	Summit and upper N flank Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	3		sconosciuto
1841 Set 20 - 1850 Feb 16	Summit, upper N and E flanks Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	2		sconosciuto
1835 Gen - 1839 Gen 3	Summit, upper east and west flanks Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	3		sconosciuto
1824 Lug 2 - 1834 Set 2	Summit, upper E and S flanks Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	3		sconosciuto
1796 Gen - 1822 Nov 16	Summit and upper flanks Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	3?		sconosciuto
1813 Mag (episodio eruttivo 1813 Mag)	Tsunami registrato Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	2		sconosciuto	Info
1813 Mag: Mediterranean Tsunami Catalogue 1813, May 17.Campania. Cause: VA. Rel.: 1. Int. : 2 Date, volcanic explosivity index (VEI) and cone coordinates from Simkin et al. (1981). A period of explosions at the Vesuvius from May to December 28, 1813. The sea withdrew about 15-20 paces at Torre del Greco, Portici and Resina in an interval of a few minutes (Capocci, 1861a; Mercalli, 1883). Further references: Baratta (1901, 1931); Caputo and Faita (1984); Antonopoulos (1990); Tinti and Maramai (1996); Tinti et al. (2004); Soloviev et al. (2000). (above from reference #4139) Cited references #4139 Tsunami Risk and Strategies for the European region (TRANSFER) project (2009): Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean Region Tsunami Catalogue (NEAMTWS), retrieved February 2009 from http://www.ioc-tsunami.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=282&Itemid=1102 Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1805 Ago 11 (eruzione 1796 Gen - 1822 Nov 16)	Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	2	4	sconosciuto	Info
1805 Ago 11: Reports of fatalities and damage. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1783 Ago 18 - 1794 Lug 5	Summit and SW flank (550-300 m) Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	3?		sconosciuto
1794 Giu 15 (eruzione 1783 Ago 18 - 1794 Lug 5)	Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	3	400	pesante	Info
1794 Giu 15: 60 fatalities at Torre del Greco, with 80% of the town destroyed by lava flows. Several people died from CO2. Sapper reported 26 killed, possibly by lava flows. Hoffer described 15 deaths by lava flows and explosions when the lava reached the bay. Scandone et al. report a total of 400 fatlaities, and complete destruction (by mudflows and ashfall?) of S. Guiseppe, Ottaviano, and Somma. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #1637 Hoffer, William (1982): Volcano: The Search for Vesuvius. Summit Books, New York, New York, 189 p. #1667 Sapper, K. (1917): Katalog der Geschichtlichen Vulkanausbruche. Strasbourg: Karl J Trubner, 358 p #1668 Scandone R., L. Giacomelli L, and P. Gasparini (1993): Mount Vesuvius: 2000 years of volcanological observations. J Volc Geotherm Res, 58: 5-26 #6815 Hutton, C., Shaw, G., Pearson, R. (1809): The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London from their Commencement, in 1665, to the year 1800. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1770 Feb 15 - 1779 Ott 4 ?	Summit, N, NE, SE and E flanks Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	3?		sconosciuto
1779 Ago 8 (eruzione 1770 Feb 15 - 1779 Ott 4 ?)	Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	2	1-50 (*)	sconosciuto	Info
1779 Ago 8: Few deaths. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1764 - 1767 Ott 27	Summit, upper SW, SE, and NNW flanks Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	3		sconosciuto
1744 Nov - 1761 Gen 6	Summit, upper SE, E and lower S flanks Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	3		sconosciuto
1742 - 1743	Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	1		sconosciuto
1732 Dic 25 - 1737 Giu 4	Summit and SW flank Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	3?		sconosciuto
1737 Mag 20 (eruzione 1732 Dic 25 - 1737 Giu 4)	Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	2	2	moderato	Info
1737 Mag 20: Serious damage from tephra fall near end of 5-year eruption. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1724 Set 4 - 1730 Apr 1 ?	Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	3		sconosciuto
1708 Ago 14 - 1723 Lug 8	Summit, upper east and south flanks Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	3		sconosciuto
1714 Giu 30	Tsunami registrato Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	0		sconosciuto
1701 Lug 1 - 1707 Ago 22	Summit and SW flank Osservazioni/documentazioni storiche	3		sconosciuto

(*) Numeri stimati

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Remark:

Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.

Fonti: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Vesuvius Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Vesuvius volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Vesuvius occurred during 1913 - 1944.

+How often does Vesuvius volcano erupt?

Since 217 BC, Vesuvius volcano has had at least 46 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 49 years.
Many eruptions of Vesuvius have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 327 out of 2242 years until now. In other words, Vesuvius has been active at least one in 6.9 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Vesuvius is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.

+How active is Vesuvius volcano at present?

Vesuvius volcano is very active: Since 1900, it has had 39 eruptions, and been active during 39 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Vesuvius has been in eruption one in 3.2 years on average. The last eruption was from 1913 until 1944 and ended 81 years ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Vesuvius volcano?

The largest eruption of Vesuvius volcano in historic times occurred during 1631 AD - 1632 AD. It ranks as a plinian eruption with a magnitude 5 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale. Eruption of this size are often catastrophic on a regional scale.

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Vesuvius Vulcano Mappe

Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).