Most people don’t think of volcanoes when they think of Italy, but believe it or not, Italy is the only European country with active volcanoes! With over twelve volcanoes, it’s home to some of the most dangerous in the entire world. The three main active volcanoes in Italy are Etna, Stromboli and Vesuvius. Now let’s break them down.
1: Mount Etna: Europe’s Largest Active Volcano
Mount Etna stands at 10,900 feet in elevation and is the highest active volcano in Europe. This mountain is located on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, between the cities of Messina and Catania. Not only is this volcano the largest in Europe but it’s also the most active. It’s last major eruption was in 1928 although there have been many minor ones since then. The most recent was in 2012. This unique destination is excellent for hikers who want to visit the active craters at the top.
2: Stromboli: The Island Volcano
Also located in Sicily, is the island of Stromboli. The population is right around 1,000 people. Stromboli is one of the most active volcanoes on earth and has been erupting continuously since 1932. It’s made up of a small group of islands that were formed by volcanic activity. This activity happened over a period of 250,000 years. There were eight islands that formed and two of them are considered to be active volcanoes. One of the best parts about Stromboli is the lava spurts that occur. The Romans refer to it as the “Lighthouse of the Mediterranean” since you can watch lava erupt out from a safe distance.
3: Mount Vesuvius: The Volcano That Buried Pompeii
This is by far one of Italy’s most popular mountains. It’s located on the bay on Naples in the Campania region of Italy on the west coast. Standing at 4,203 feet tall, Mount Vesuvius is considered to be one of the most dangerous in the world and has a population of 3,000,000 people living nearby. It’s responsible for burying the ancient cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii in 79AD. The city was buried in about 25 hours by volcanic ash. What makes this mountain unique is that it’s the only active volcano on European mainland, the others are on islands. To access Mount Vesuvius you must take a bus to the top of the mountain and it’s about a 25-30 minute walk to the top of the craters. This extremely popular destination brings in tons of tourists each year and something you shouldn’t miss out on.
If you’re planning to visit Pompeii, consider joining us for our semi-private tour of the archeological wonders of that ancient village; it still sits in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. If you’re touring with kids, you’ll want to checkout the kid-friendly version of our Pompeii tour. We also offer full day tours of Pompeii from Rome and many other variations on coastal and Pompeii-adjacent tours and experiences. Lastly, if you want the ultimate view of Mount Vesuvius, look no further than the once-in-a-lifetime experience of a helicopter tour!
