Vesuvius: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Nov. 3, 2026

News •

Perfume bottle and child’s necklace among treasures found in Pompeii wardrobe | Archaeology • Oct. 30, 2026, 12:20 PM ET (The Guardian)

In Pompeii, a woman's wardrobe resurfaces with beauty items and jewels • Oct. 29, 2026, 6:08 AM ET (Euronews)

Astronaut captures photos of Mount Etna, Vesuvius from space • Oct. 18, 2026, 5:56 PM ET (El Paso Times)

Photos and Videos

Ruins of ancient Pompeii with stone arches and columns, a large grassy area in front, and Mount Vesuvius rising in the background.

Map depicting the 79 CE eruption of Mount Vesuvius near the Bay of Naples in Italy. The shaded gray area shows the extent of the volcanic smoke plume, covering cities such as Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis, and Stabiae, which are marked with red dots to indicate they were destroyed. The map includes surrounding locations like Neapolis, Misenum, and Salernum, as well as the islands of Ischia and Capri. An inset shows the region's location within Italy.

excavations near Mount Vesuvius

Discover the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, buried in volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted

Magma streaming down a volcano.

Watch buildings crumble during the volcanic eruption of Italy's Mount Vesuvius in 1944

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