The eruption that made history is the one from 79 AD, which destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum. Today the ruins of Pompeii can be visited and are a popular attraction for tourists.

The best time to visit is in spring or fall and when the volcano is inactive. Of course, not all of the volcano's eruptions are as big as the one in 79 AD. The last eruption was in 1944, followed in 1999 by a 3.6 magnitude earthquake. It was felt in a 25 kilometers radius of the volcano. An earthquake of the same magnitude provoked the eruption in 1631.

In the last years, some of the people living close to the crater have been relocated, trying to reduce the risks of a future eruption.