Venture to one of history's most infamous natural wonders, a stratovolcano notorious for its dramatic eruption in AD 79 that enveloped the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in a shroud of volcanic ash. Rising majestically over the Bay of Naples, this brooding giant offers a reminder of nature's power and the fragility of civilisations. With its lush slopes and steaming crater, it presents an awe-inspiring landscape that contrasts vibrantly with the tales of fiery destruction from centuries past. Interestingly, Vesuvius is the only volcano on Europe's mainland to have erupted in the last hundred years, making it a captivating element of Italian geography and history.