The museum of Osservatorio Vesuviano-INGV.

Abstract

The Osservatorio Vesuviano (OV), section of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), is the oldest volcanological observatory worldwide, dating back to 1841. It is a public research institute in the fields of geophysics and volcanology and carries out the surveillance of Neapolitan active volcanoes. Public outreach activities are also carried out. The main aim of public outreach activities is to improve the volcanic risk knowledge and awareness among people living in high volcanic risk areas near the city of Naples. In its historical site, on Vesuvius, a museum has been established, with a permanent exhibition, entitled “Vesuvius: 2000 years of observations”. The museum preserves valuable collections of rocks and minerals, historical scientific instruments, books and paintings. The exhibition, due to a strong cooperation between OV and the Italian Civil Protection Department, brings the visitor along a pathway through the world of volcanoes, in particular Vesuvius. Visitors, guided by a very skilled staff, are more than 10,000 / year and are mostly school groups.