Vesuvius is one of the most studied and well-known volcanoes in the world. A symbol of Naples with its unique shape, it has a typical frusto-conical shape, with its highest peak reaching 1277 meters. The crater is currently 450 meters in diameter and 300 meters deep. The eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis and Stabiae, as well as several other settlements.

The Vesuvius National Park is a national park established on 5 June 1995 for the great geological, biological and historical interest that its territory represents. The park develops around the Somma-Vesuvius volcanic complex and the headquarters are located in the municipality of Ottaviano, in the metropolitan city of Naples. The Vesuvius National Park was officially born on 5 June 1995 to preserve animal and plant species, plant and forest associations, geological singularities, paleontological formations, biological communities, biotopes, scenic and panoramic values, natural processes, the hydraulic and hydrogeological balances and the ecological balances of the Vesuvian territory.

Located in the Piana Campana, it is a typical example of an enclosed volcano layer, consisting of two morphologically clearly distinguishable structures: the Somma caldera and the Great Cone of Vesuvius. The Somma caldera, consisting of the mountain of the same name, is semicircular in shape, reaches its maximum height with Punta Nasone (1132 mt.), and represents what remains of the ancient volcano, whose activity dates back to at least 300,000 years ago.