Vesuvius, from risk to resource? A theatrical representation for the old and new Grand Tour

Interdisciplinary is one of the most efficient approaches when it comes to disseminating topics related to natural hazards; furthermore, when the leading actor is Mt. Vesuvius, due to its 2000-year history and to the exceptional quantity and quality of information available, the following approach becomes mandatory.

In the presence of natural phenomena responsible for human losses, it is natural to wonder about the causes and whether they can be foreseen. The objective is therefore to move from an awareness of emergency to a culture of prevention and risk mitigation; the key tool is to implement risk education at any social level to overcome the cultural barriers that consider the volcano only as a burden because of the problems it creates, and not as a resource in the name of security and prosperity. In this context, we created the theatrical representation “Dottò, ma quando scoppia il Vesuvio – il Nuovo Grand Tour” (i.e.: “Doc, when does Vesuvius erupt? – The New Grand Tour”) to stage all the aspects that the Vesuvius machine has been able to produce and preserve over time until today.

For the first time, a theatrical performance will allow the audience to learn the eruptive history of Mt. Vesuvius and to fully understand its functioning by means of a journey through time. This itinerant story is drawn up by the interplay between the two protagonists of the show, stuffed with spots of humour to keep high the audience’s attention. Meanwhile, several videos showing appealing images are projected in the background, accompanied by live performances of touching musical pieces.

The show is not limited to the description of the eruptive activity occurred over the centuries, but it is also focused on the cultural growth of the Vesuvian area, from the traditional Grand Tour of the XVIII century up to modern times, highlighting the numerous technological discoveries that were exhibited in Neapolitan lounges over time. The journey not only includes the last eruptive event of 1944 in the city of Naples overwhelmed by barbarities of the II World War, but also the period following the economic boom when, through the implementation of a new regulatory plan, the foundations to complete the wicked urban expansion in the Phlegrean Fields and Vesuvian areas were posed.  This choice has determined the uncontrolled expansion of the urban area of Naples and surroundings, bringing the volcanic risk threshold to today's unacceptable, yet growing, level.

In the final part of the show, an idea for the mitigation of the volcanic risk at Mt. Vesuvius is proposed, highlighting how the volcano itself can become a powerful economic resource for the territorial growth. In fact, while the need for a program to decongest areas at risk is clear, a fundamental and proposed paradigm is to update the tourist offer, connecting Mt. Vesuvius to all the areas of Campania region through low environmental impact transportation. This would trigger a “New Grand Tour” that, in turn, could improve tourist programs with a renewed cultural power.