What you can see on the Vesuvius cams
The view is the skyline of Vesuvius and Monte Somma above the towns of the coast, a volcano watched as much for its light and weather as for any sign of activity. At dawn it stands as a dark silhouette against the sky; late in the day the low sun falls on its slopes.
Vesuvius and Monte Somma from Portici
From the national research council's building at Portici, on the coast below the volcano, this camera takes in the skyline of Vesuvius: the cone of the Gran Cono on the right and the older, broken ridge of Monte Somma on the left, which is what remains of the larger volcano that collapsed around it. Rooftops and a tall monument stand in the foreground, and a wide sky fills the top of the frame.
The towns of the Vesuvian coast run continuously along its foot, which is why this volcano is watched so closely. Early morning puts the sun behind it, so it shows as a dark silhouette at dawn.
A quiet but watched volcano
Vesuvius last erupted in March 1944, during the Second World War. Since then it has stayed calm, with only small earthquakes and a few gas vents in the crater. Around 700,000 people live in the zone that would be evacuated in a future eruption, and INGV’s Vesuvius Observatory, founded in 1841 and the oldest volcano observatory in the world, watches it continuously.
When to watch Vesuvius
Clear winter days, especially after a northerly wind has cleaned the air, give the sharpest views of the cone, sometimes with snow on the summit. Sunset lights the mountain from the west. Italy is one hour ahead of UTC in winter and two in summer.
Around Vesuvius
Pompeii and Herculaneum, both buried in AD 79, are UNESCO World Heritage sites, as is the historic centre of Naples. Near Torre Annunziata, the villa of Oplontis preserves some of the finest Roman wall paintings anywhere. The volcanic soil of the slopes produces the wine known as Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio.
Visiting Vesuvius
A road climbs to about 1,000 m (3,300 ft), and from there a gravel path leads to the crater rim in about 30 minutes. It is part of Vesuvius National Park, and tickets must be booked online for a set time. Pompeii and Herculaneum lie at the foot of the volcano.
