Il Vesuvio

The Vesuvio comes in the history of volcanology after the eruption of 79 A.D..
It started with an high column of gas,  ashes and lapillus as described by Plinio who from Miseno (20 Km from volcano) watched all the evolution of this eruption.  "The cloud, big and dark, like a pine-tree rise up to the sky and it seems that new branches grows up..."
Entire cities like Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed.
The materials erupted from the Vesuvio covered the fields, the streets, the houses, the temples of the cities.
After the 79 A.D. it started a long silence on the activity of Vesuvio.  In the 203 Dione Cassio reported that it happened a violent eruption and the sound was heard until Capua, 40 Km from the Vesuvius.
Then news about other two violent eruptions in the 472 and 512 were indicated by Marcellino Comite.
Then numerous authors speak about other eruptions in the 991,993 e 999, but the population at that time believed more that all these phenomenon were a prelude to the end of the world and of the life.
They have found many manuscripts about the eruption that on 1139 "dropped from the mouth for eight days fire and ardent flames..."
In 1575 Stephanus Pighius,  a monk who was travelling in Italy described the Vesuvio covered by grapes and nice fields. He said "It's cold and it doesn't make any heat or smoke..". From 1575 is almost sure that the Vesuvio has been inactive.
In the night between 15 and 16 December big sounds and earthquakes were heard and the Vesuvio started again its activity bringing scare and destruction.
In the 1944 one of the last and stronger eruption,  ashes,  lapillus and lava flow invaded all the fields and the area around the volcano.
After this until today the Vesuvio has never erupted anymore. ..People have built under the Vesuvio big towns and cities.
One of the most populated city, Portici, is there under the Vesuvio. We believe in its silence.