Il Vesuvio - Arriving in another world

This contribution is the first one in a series that will be dedicated to Mount Vesuvius. What would the Bay of Naples look like without this omnipresent volcano? To get started, I would like to share with you a few pictures of Vesuvius seen from above, from a plane landing at Napoli's Airport Capodichino.

Planes are not allowed to fly across the crater anymore

And to my mind it is always good to start out with sound knowledge about a topic. For a first impression I recommend this book dedicated to Mount Vesuvius which is amongst my favorites: 

A book giving a first impression on Mt. Vesuvius, published by Bonechi Editore

This book is available also in the book stores and cartolerie in Sorrento and covers the flora, fauna, history of eruptions. You can also read about an excursion up the slopes of Vesuvius and Monte Somma to the mouth of the volcano, its national park "Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio", the Observatory "Osservatorio del Monte Vesuvio" and its Museum.

The green slopes of Monte Somma and Naples

These pictures were taken two weeks before fires destroyed part of the Mediterranean macchia and pines of Monte Somma. In August 2012, a considerable part of the vegetation towards Torre del Greco was destroyed by fires broken out in the very hot summer.

Still, it will take a few years before there is a chance that vegetation will come back to life. Currently, colors look drab and very brown, but this is rather an exception. Hopefully the green mantle of Monte Somma will recover soon so that from the next year again there is a chance that it will soon look like it was before.

Here is the green slope of the Monte Somma near Torre del Greco where the fire broke out, the picture was taken two weeks before.

Vesuvius currently consists of one large cone and a second, originally much higher structure that collapsed at its memorable eruption of 79 AD when Pompei and Herculaneum were destroyed and lava spilled out reaching the slopes of the Sorrento Peninsula. For a view of the current caldera click here.

A few more pictures taken from the plane landing in Napoli, see the surroundings and to the right, glimpses towards Gragnano and the Sorrento peninsula with its Lattari Mountains

Here in the hinterland to the left is where the finest pomodori vesuviani and San Marzano grow ...

To the right in the misty background, the Sorrento Peninsula and Bay of Naples with Castellamare and Torre del Greco come into sight