Insights into the possible relationships between the Vesuvius and Campi Flegrei volcanic systems in the sixteenth–seventeenth centuries through artistic and literary sources

Vesuvius is one of the volcanoes with the highest volcanic risk worldwide, owing to the exceptionally dense urbanization of its surroundings. Its eruptive history is well constrained from 1631 to the present, while the period preceding this date, particularly the 15th and 16th centuries, remains poorly defined. During this interval, the volcano is generally believed to have undergone a prolonged phase of quiescence, although several historical reports describe episodes of activity. This time window is of critical importance for the correct interpretation of Vesuvius’s eruptive behavior, especially in understanding the relationship between large, explosive eruptions, such as the 1631 event, which represents the reference scenario in the current national emergency plan, and the more frequent effusive or mixed eruptions that characterized the volcano’s persistent activity pattern.

Previous studies have undertaken a critical re-examination of the historical “accounts” of volcanic activity during the 16th century in light of new scientific, historical, and art-historical evidence. These analyses have revealed previously unrecognized features of Vesuvius’s behavior prior to the major eruption of 1631, identifying elements that merit further investigation. Moreover, further research is needed to clarify the relationships between Vesuvius and the nearby Campi Flegrei caldera. Historical records indicate that, during the 16th century, the activity of the two volcanic systems was concurrent, suggesting possible interactions or mutual modulation of their behavior. In addition, Rosi et al. (2025) show that the long-term unrest that preceded the Monte Nuovo eruption (1538), which affected the Campi Flegrei area during the 15th and 16th centuries, represents the only historically documented unrest episode prior to the one currently underway. This aspect is of fundamental importance for interpreting the present unrest at Campi Flegrei, which has been ongoing for more than twenty years and continues to show progressive intensification and spatial expansion.