Of the many eruptions of Mount Vesuvius, a major stratovolcano in Southern Italy, its eruption in 1631 is the most destructive episode in recent history and one of the deadliest of all time.
Domenico Gargiulo, The eruption of the Vesuvius in 1631 (Oil on canvas, Capua private coll.)
Another depiction of people witnessing the eruption and spreading word via horseback
Simplified tectonic context of Vesuvius
Volcanic deposits depicted from the more recent 1944 eruption at Mount Vesuvius
Ercolano
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Ercolano is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania of Southern Italy. It lies at the western foot of Mount Vesuvius, on the Bay of Naples, just southeast of the city of Naples.
View of Ercolano
Basilica of Santa Maria a Pugliano
Entrance to the underground theatre of ancient Herculaneum
A view of the Golden Mile street in the centre