View of Mount Vesuvius

Walking along the seafront, you can’t miss the deep blue horizon—and the unmistakable shape of Mount Vesuvius. You can’t tell Naples’ story without mentioning its legendary volcano. Rising 1,281 meters above sea level, it’s the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted in the past century. Its last eruption was in 1944, but its most infamous was in AD 79, when it destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum. Over the centuries, Vesuvius has inspired countless legends, but one thing is certain—it’s among the most dangerous volcanoes in the world due to its explosive nature. Don’t worry, though: it’s under constant monitoring, and an evacuation plan for the 600,000 people living in the high-risk zone is ready to go if needed.