The Vesuvius National Park Ottaviano - Bay of Naples

The Vesuvius National Park was officially designated on June 5TH 1995, in order to protect the last-remaining active volcanic complex in Europe.
The aims of the Park are:
conservation of its fauna, flora and geomorphologic structures;
- application of administration and environmental protection programmes;
- promotion of educational, recreational and sustainable research activities;
- reconstitution and defence of hydraulic and hydrogeological balances in the area;
- promotion of traditional cultural, agricultural and craftwork activities.

The Park is situated in the province of Naples, and extends 8,482 hectares across the territory of 13 municipalities: Boscoreale, Boscotrecase, Ercolano, Massa di Somma, Ottaviano, Pollena Trocchia, Sant'Anastasia, San Giuseppe Vesuviano, San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, Somma Vesuviana, Terzigno, Torre del Greco and Trecase. It also includes two European Community Sites of Importance, a Special Protection Zone, a Wilderness area and a National Forest Reserve; proof of the extraordinary natural and environmental interest that this territory attracts. The Park is also guardian of a rich cultural and folkloric patrimony, comprising religious celebrations, dances, songs and music which testify the history of the people of Vesuvius, and highly regarded coral, lava stone and copper craftsmanship.

Mt. Vesuvius is the only active volcano in continental Europe, the most populated (20 municipalities with a total of 400,000 residents) and is also the most extensively studied volcano on Earth. The current shape of the volcano is the result of the continual alternation between "explosive" type eruptions, which have produced pyroclastic deposits, and "effusive" type ones, which instead have produced lava; the resulting volcanic structure is defined as volcanic stratum. The earliest eruptions, which took place between 25,000 and 17,000 years ago, partly destroyed the most ancient volcano, Mt. Somma, within which the Gran Cono of Mt. Vesuvius later formed. The two structures as a whole are known as the Somma-Vesuvius volcanic complex and are a typical example of a fence layer volcano. The highest point of Mt. Vesuvius reaches 1,282 metres above sea level. The current crater has a diameter of 650 metres and a depth of 230 metres. At the base of the crater there are a number of eruptive openings which discharged many of the streams of lava from 1631 up until 1944, the year of the last eruption. Today there are small fumaroles on the Gran Cono of Mt. Vesuvius, a sign of its dormant state. Mt. Somma reaches a height of 1,132 metres above sea level. with Punta Nasone, and has a base diameter of approximately 15 km. The "fence" of Mt. Somma is well preserved on its northern part and the old crater edge has a succession of peaks known as Cognoli. On the external slope meteorological events over thousands of years have created numerous ravines. The southern enclosure, however, has now disappeared completely and in its place there is a flat area, called Piano delle Ginestre. Mt. Vesuvius and Mt. Somma are separated by a depression known as Valle del Gigante, itself divided into Atrio del Cavallo to the west and Valle dell'Inferno to the east.

The Vesuvius side has a characteristic Mediterranean-type vegetation. Colonisation of the lava by vegetation happens thanks to a greyish-silver lichen called Stereocaulon vesuvianum, which prepares the ground for settlement by other pioneering species, and eventually maquis or scrub is formed. The Somma side instead is damper and is covered by mesophyll forest vegetation, with a prevalence of mixed woodlands of Chestnut, Oak, Alder, Maple and Ilex trees. Over nine hundred plant species have colonised the volcanic complex over time; the current composition of its flora includes 610 species, among which 18 endemic ones of great interest, such as Helichrysum litoreum. Another interesting feature is the presence of twenty species of orchids and small nuclei of Birch (Betula pendula), remaining evidence of the mesophile woodland that once covered the slopes of the volcano. The fauna is interesting too: Some of the mammals that can be found are the Wood mouse, the Stone marten, the Fox, the wild Rabbit and the Hare. The most commonlyfound vertebrates are birds, with about 140 species, among which the Sparrow hawk, the Peregrine falcon, the Buzzard, the Redstart, the Wood Pigeon and the Imperial crow. As far as amphibians are concerned there is a considerable Emerald toad population, while there are eight species of reptiles, among which the Rat snake and the Aesculapius coluber. There is also a large community of invertebrates, including 44 different species of butterflies.

Since ancient times man has settled at the foot of Mt. Vesuvius, because its fertile volcanic soil and temperate climate have favoured the emergence of thriving agriculture there. The extensive oak woods have slowly been replaced by vineyards and orchards, which are still the main crops farmed in the area today. Among the best-known produce are: apricots, in a wide range of varieties, cherries, which are mostly grown at the foot of Mt. Somma, the famous pomodorini da serbo, cherry tomatoes that are kept all year long, hanging from the walls or ceilings in characteristic piennoli, and the giant cauliflower among the vegetable species. Vesuvius however, is above all a wine-growing area; one of its most renowned wines is the Piedirosso, which together with Falanghina, is the Vesuvian red and rosé wine with a Controlled Denomination of Origin, while the white wine with the same denomination comes from the Coda di Volpe vineyard, which has ancient origins. The Falangina, Piedirosso and Coda di Volpe grapes are used to produce the famous Lacryma Christi wine.

A drive towards local development has to be a priority if culture and traditional activities are to be effectively exploited; also for promoting tourism in the area. The Park Authority involves the local community in initiatives based on the rediscovery of and appreciation of cultural traditions and local production that symbolise work, the passion of the people of Vesuvius, the history and memory of the protected area. It works to make the territory competitive, even on the wider market, with its typical produce. It is the Park Authority's inexorable aim to give cultural activities linked to the protection and promotion of anthropological and historical values, an essential social communication function, and a fundamental tool for promoting local cultures. Many events of cultural interest are held in the municipalities of the Park during the year, and these belong to the communities that live within the Park. The strategic importance of the Park Authority's participation in these events has found expression in the promotion and rediscovery of popular celebrations, publicising such events effectively through the media.