Mt Vesuvius

Mt Vesuvius is a stratovolcano located in the Gulf of Naples, about 9 km east of Naples. It is the only European volcano to have erupted in the last 100 years—it last erupted in 1944—but rest assured, it has been dormant for some years now. This volcano is best known for its eruption in 79 AD, which buried and destroyed the two Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. That ghastly eruption sent clouds of stones, fumes, and ashes to a height of 33 km, killing approximately 10,000 to 25,000 people.
An interesting fact related to the deadly eruption in 79 AD is that the explosion of Vesuvius gave birth to the term "Plinian", which is used to define the eruption clouds formed by a large volcanic outbreak. Pliny, a historian from Rome, recorded the oldest existing eyewitness account of the volcanic eruption. This adventurous, beautiful and exceptional volcano has been a national park since 1995 and you can hike all the way to the summit. You can also take the spiral walkway around the mountain and go right up to the crater.

The easiest and cheapest way to reach Vesuvius is through the Circumvesuviana railway (Sorrento line) to Ercolano (Scavi), and then the Vesuvio Express. You can also go in a bus from Pompeii. Once you are there, you can take in a good view of the Bay of Naples and Pompeii. The hike is challenging, but the beauty and view make up for it. You can also combine the hike with a trip to Pompeii and Herculaneum.