Pompeii - Mt Vesuvius

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Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius or Vesuvio, the volcano near Naples, is an interesting place to explore. Mount Vesuvius, one of the world's most dangerous volcanoes, has an eruption cycle of about 20 years, but the last eruption was in 1944. Lets continue to find out more about Pompeii Mt Vesuvius.

Mount Vesuvius Active Volcano

When you finally reach the edge of the crater, you will be staggered at its size. Inside the crater itself, it is possible to see glimpses of steam rising from the side of the crater demonstrating that Mt Vesuvius is an active volcano.

Eruption of Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii

It is unknown how many people left Pompeii after the first earthquake, but a considerable number did indeed leave the devastation behind and move to other cities within the Roman Empire. By the 1st century, Pompeii was one of a number of towns located around the base of Mount Vesuvius. Love and sex were considered earthly practices of a man's life that were encouraged by the benevolence of Venus. Some aspects of the Pompeii culture were distinctly erotic, including phallic worship.

Pompeii Eruption of Vesuvius

The eruption was documented by contemporary historians and is generally accepted as having started on 24 August 79, relying on one version of the text of Pliny's letter. The overall experience of the Vesuvius eruption, must have been etched on Pliny's memory given the trauma of the occasion, and the loss of his uncle, Pliny the Elder, with whom he had a close relationship.

Mount Vesuvius What Happened?

The last major eruption was in March 1944 and it destroyed the villages of San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, Massa di Somma, Ottaviano, and part of San Giorgio a Cremano. The eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 1906 was particularly destructive, killing over 100 people and ejecting the most lava ever recorded from a Vesuvian eruption. Since 1944, the volcano has been silent.

Pliny The Younger Mt Vesuvius

Many contemporary sculptures are described and discussed by Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia published in 77 AD. Campi Flegrei, furthermore known as the Phlegraean Fields (from Greek meaning burning fields), is a large 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) wide caldera situated to the west of the city of Naples. Pliny was here with his Uncle when the eruption of Mt Vesuvius happened. Pliny's uncle, the naturalist Pliny the Elder, was in charge of area warships, but he turned his fleet to rescuing residents and died.

Mt Vesuvius Lava

Mount Vesuvius was built up by a series of lava flows and a number of smaller explosive eruptions interspersed in-between. The lava is composed of adesite, viscous in nature. The whole of Mount Vesuvius comprises layers of lava, volcanic ash and pumice.

Pompeii Volcanoes Area

The pyroclastic blast from the eruption incinerated the inhabitants of Herculaneum. Almost 2,000 years later, You have the opportunity to explore the preserved ruins of this famed disaster.A busy commercial centre with a population of 10,000-20,000, the ancient Pompeii covered about 160 acres on the seaward end of the fertile Sarno Plain. Along with Herculaneum, its sister city, Pompeii was destroyed and completely buried during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning two days in 79 AD.

Pompeii Herculaneum

Both Pompeii and Herculaneum have since been excavated to reveal many intact buildings and wall paintings. A full day Pompeii and Herculaneum tour can be a historical discovery exploring the archaeological sites of the Bay of Naples. Silent for thousands of years, Pompeii and Herculaneum are now living museums of life in the Roman Empire.

And now I would like to invite you to visit the following link for more information on visiting Pompeii, Capri, Amalfi Coast, City of Naples and other places in the Bay of Naples when you visit http://Pompeiitours.org/mt-vesuvius/ (<--click this link)

From Francesca Laguida - expert local guide and author on Pompeii, Vesuvius, the Amalfi Coast, Capri and the city of Naples Italy.

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