Vesuvius is the most famous volcano on earth, one of the most studied and is also one of the most dangerous since the vast territory that extends to its slopes has seen the construction of houses up to 700 meters high. It 'a typical example of a compound formed by a volcano cone, Monte Somma (1133 meters), with a crater belt mostly demolished within which there is a smaller cone, the Vesuvius (1281 meters), separated by a lowering named Valle del Gigante, part of the caldera, where later, presumably during the eruption in 79 d.C., was formed the Great Cone or Vesuvius. The Giant's Valley is divided in turn into the Horse Hall to the west and east of Hell Valley. Sum of the fence is well maintained throughout its northern part, it was in historical times less exposed to the devastating fury of the volcano, because it was well protected by the inner wall which prevented the flow of lava on its slopes. The slopes, varying steepness, are furrowed by profound radial grooves produced by erosion of stormwater. The walls of the cone of Mount Sommaparte occur at peak. The whole section is then littered with spikes and dykes of dark volcanic rock. The old crater edge is a series of summits called cognoli. While the height of mount Somma and its profile have remained the same for centuries, the height and profile of Vesuvius have suffered considerable variation, due to successive eruptions, with raisings and lowerings. Vesuvius is a characteristic polygenic mixed volcano, which is constituted by lava of different chemical composition (for example trachytes, tephrites, leucitites) and is formed by lava flows or pyroclastic deposits. All areas on the slopes of the mountain are formed by Monte Sommada transported earth of lava mud which goes down from the steep slopes in the rainy seasons through deep and narrow channels or more commonly known as complain. The high embankments are formed by piles of lava scoriae, which precipitated dilagati incandescent state and towards the lower slopes, you reveal it now because of their fertile material, rich in silicon and potassium, precious for the vegetation. On colder days, vapor condensation makes visible the fumaroles found in many parts of the inner wall of the crater. Continuing along the edge of the crater, looking towards the sea takes the entire length of the southern part of the volcano and on days with good visibility, the entire Gulf of Naples from Sorrento peninsula to Cape Misenum, Procida and Ischia. It 's inevitable to note also the reckless urban expansion that ascends the slopes of the volcano.
From October 29, 2005 Vesuvius is a museum open house because its 10 hairpin bends giant sculptures. The permanent exhibition is called Creator Vesuvius.