VESUVIUS | 80 years after the last eruption, three days dedicated to learning about the volcano

A program dedicated to families and students to learn about the most famous volcano in the IT world;

From Sunday 17 March to Tuesday 19 March 2024, 80 years after the last eruption of Vesuvius, will be held three days of guided tours of the historic headquarters of the Vesuvian Observatory and the places of the volcano, open to families and students of schools in the "red zone" identified by the National Civil Protection Plan.

The program of events, entitled "KNOW AND EXPERIENCE VESUVIUS, 80 YEARS AFTER THE LAST ERUPTION", was organized byVesuvius Observatory ofNational Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV-OV), from Department of Civil Protection (DPC), From Civil Protection of the Campania Region and by 'Vesuvius National Park Authority, with the collaboration ofRegional School Office for Campania and City of Herculaneum and is aimed at offering the possibility of rediscovering the volcano, the phenomena associated with it, the historical memory of the places, as well as promoting civil protection activities through guided tours that can develop knowledge of the volcano and awareness of the risk.

The visits are free and guided by staff from the INGV Osservatorio Vesuviano, the Vesuvius National Park Authority, the Department of Civil Protection and the Civil Protection of the Campania Region.

March 17th is open to everyone. Staggered departures are scheduled every hour from 9:00 to 15:00 and reservations are required (while places last) via the Vesuvian Observatory website www.ov.ingv.it.

The days of March 18th and 19th are dedicated to schools who have joined the initiative through the Regional School Office.

The program includes, on all days, a first part with a visit to the historic headquarters of the Vesuvian Observatory and the screening of an exclusive film on the 1944 eruption and a second part with a walk along path no. 9 of the Vesuvius National Park to delve deeper into the naturalistic aspects of the volcano, the risk characteristics and civil protection activities.

The entire visit takes approximately two hours and is organized for groups of 50 people.

Vesuvius, in the midst of the Second World War, shook the skies, starting its last eruption and leaving an indelible mark on the memory. A few days later, while the American B25 Mitchell bombers of Operation Strangle took off to hit the Nazi troops stationed around Monte Cassino, Vesuvius, after an initial effusive phase, gave vent to its explosive power by raising a ash column of more than 5 km.

The eruption of Vesuvius lasted a few days. The date that marked the beginning of the effusive phase was March 18, 1944, when, at 16.30 pm, an explosion occurred which partially destroyed the small intracrateric waste cone.

"Knowing and Experiencing Vesuvius" represents a unique opportunity for the local community and schools to deepen their knowledge of the volcano, understand the phenomena associated with its activity and learn the civil protection measures necessary to deal with any risks.