Even in the brightest sunshine, Mount Vesuvius casts a threatening shadow over Naples in southern Italy. Residents live in fear of the volcano, whose murderous eruption in ad 79 propelled lava and ash over surrounding towns, including Pompeii and Herculaneum, burying them. For centuries, the ancient towns remained safely sealed from the elements; they were rediscovered only in the eighteenth century. Archaeological excavations since then have revealed much about life in Roman times, but Pompeii in particular dominates the public s imagination. The 66-hectare site, two-thirds of which has been excavated, receives more than 2 million visitors a year. Many Neapolitans make their living thanks to the tourist industry created by the catastrophe.
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