Volcano Discovery in Italy

Today you will arrive in Italy’s capital, Rome, the cultural center of this historically rich country. Your guide will meet you at your hotel and lead you on a tour of some of Rome’s most famous sites. Since you only have an afternoon in this dynamic city, the tour will be by bus. Along the way, you’ll see the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and the Pantheon. The group will explore the Piazza Navona on foot to take in its people, fountains, surrounding architecture, restaurants, cafes and shops. 

This morning, the group will board a bus for the short drive south from Rome to Monte Cavo, your first volcano of the trip. The volcano is 3,120 feet tall and is considered an old, dormant volcano. It last erupted more than 10,000 years ago. After briefly exploring the area, the group will get back on the bus to head north to Monti Sabatini. This mountain chain is an active volcanic area. A local guide will board the bus as the group drives through the region and explain more about what scientists are studying in the area. Another jaunt further north delivers the group to Mount Amiata in the Tuscany region. Thermal activity from the volcano continues to be measured here, but no major eruption has happened for hundreds of thousands of years.

The group will head south near Naples today and a visit to Monte Nuovo, which is still considered to be an active volcano even though it last erupted in 1538. The land in this region continues to change, and earthquakes are common. You’ll continue a bit further to the Phlegraean Fields which is a supervolcano and a regional park. There are 24 volcanic craters here, and scientists believe that the area could be in store for a major eruption in the near future. After an educational tour of the fields, the group will board the bus and head to Pompeii, the site of the most famous Italian volcanic eruption. 

The group will board a ferry this morning for its travel to Stromboli, an island that is home to another volcano that is still active and has been since 1934. Because of its near-constant volcanic activity and eruptions, the island has been nicknamed the “Lighthouse of the Mediterranean.” The group will take another ferry from Stromboli to Mount Etna, another of the country’s three active volcanoes. Mount Etna measures more than 10,000 feet and holds the distinction of being the highest point in the country. It is the biggest active volcano in Italy and has been continuously erupting since 2014.

After touring many volcanic sites in Italy, the group will board a train in Naples for a return to Rome. The one-hour ride will deliver the group and you’ll have the afternoon free to explore Rome at your leisure. Consider exploring famous sites in the city more closely than the day you arrived or making your way to Vatican City for a tour of the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square. 

You will have one final day in Rome before your departure tomorrow. You might choose to head back to Pompeii for a more in-depth visit. The preserved city represents a day in the life of this village at the exact time of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Your guide can even help you join an archaeological dig for the day in which you will be able to help a team preserve more relics from this ancient city. 

After a full week touring some of Italy’s dormant and active volcanic sites, it’s time to head home. Your guide will pick you up from the airport and deliver you to the airport in Rome in plenty of time to make your departing flight.