Although the last eruption was in 1944 during World War II, there is no doubt that another eruption will take place in the future, a fear that Naples and the surrounding area has to permanently live with. Yet although the government has offered local inhabitants living on the mountainside a monetary compensation for moving, the majority of residents continue to choose to live with the danger.
So, why do the inhabitants of Naples and the area surrounding Mount Vesuvius stay while knowing that at any time their life could be in extreme danger due to an awakening giant? Many good reasons. Volcanic soil is extremely fertile, which is an allure for farming, vineyards and olive groves. Vesuvius is stunningly beautiful in a rather terrifying way. It provides lucrative earnings for the local inhabitants through tourism. The time between eruptions can be hundreds of years which allows people to forget what eruptions are all about. Perhaps to those who call the region home, the danger and intrigue of the unknown holds a certain mystique. Whatever the reason, over three million people live and work within the reach of Vesuvius's influence. Thus, Mount Vesuvius is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world.
The word volcano comes from the ancients belief in Vulcan, the mythical god of fire. Anyone taking the trek to the edge of the summit of Mount Vesuvius today can readily experience the same respectful attention to nature.
We still have little control over the havoc that volcanoes can create. The good news is that through years of monitoring and studying volcanic activity throughout the world, there is now the promise of earlier prediction of an eruption. It is certainly not a perfect science and those communities within the danger zones must make that ultimate decision on whether to evacuate or not according to today's information. The Istituto Nazionali di Geofisica e Volconologia in Italy, along with the United States Geological Survey and the Geological Survey of Japan are front runners in prediction study. The World Organization of Volcanic Observatories is the largest community of member nations that are funded to observe volcanic activity in order to help humanity deal with the reality of nature.
The Emergency Plan, which is updated on a regular basis, includes the 'Red Zone' an area directly in danger from a Mount Vesuvius eruption. The 'Red Zone' was updated in 2007 to include 800,000 inhabitants, but many volcanologists feel that the entire city of Naples should be included.
Which brings me to Naples, the third largest municipality in Italy, behind Rome and Milan. My experience with this ancient city was brief. It was merely the port where we embarked on a ferry for our Capri adventure. Since our day was full and we had to return to Rome that evening there was no time to explore.
Naples hasn't always had the best of reputations. Crime, corruption and sanitation problems are words used regularly in regards to the city. I'm pretty certain that Naples hasn't totally lost this reputation, but there seems to be a great deal of positives about visiting the city too.
Notes on Naples:
- Naples is one of the oldest cities in the world.The list is long of those who have had control over Naples throughout the centuries.
- Art and Architecture: Ancient to Renaissance, Baroque to Modern and everything in between. There are castles and cathedrals and underground cities which all speak of layers of history.
- Pizza - The famous Margherita! Naples is where it supposedly all began.
- Pasta - Classic Neopolitan recipes usually include seafood. Pasta Fazool, (Naples version of Pasta Fagioli). Spaghetti ala Puttanesca.
- Gelato - This I did have the opportunity to try, as it was part of the tour. I remember distinctly that the citrus type of sorbet or granita was very tasty.
- Pastries - Sfogliatelle, a layering of thin pastry filled with ricotta cream, candied citrus and cinnamon.
- Opera - One of the oldest, working theaters in Europe!
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| Opera House, Naples, Italy |
- Naples underground city: Being built on layer upon layer of volcanic tephra, Naples has another surprise for visitors in the form of an incredible underground. Everything from ancient Roman ruins to World War II bomb shelters can be seen on tours of underground Naples.
- Naples hosts NATO's Allied Joint Force Command.
- The Port of Naples is one of the most important ports in Europe.
- Naples historic city center is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The people of Naples refer to themselves as Neopolitans. The city is vital, chaotic and interesting. The history is rich and the residents of Naples are known for living life to the fullest. So, although Naples lives next door to a sleeping giant, there's no doubt in my mind it will always continue to defy the odds.
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Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius (photo is Public Domain)
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