Despite the fact that it is still active, Italians continue to build and live in the shadow of, and even on the slopes of, Mount Vesuvius.  Called Il Vesuvio in Italian, or "the Vesuvius" by our tour guide, the mountain last erupted over fifty years ago.  The large peak on the right was not present prior to the eruption of 79 A.D.  Beneath the slopes sit the outskirts of Naples, the bulk of which would be to the left of this photograph.  Pompeii lies over the right hand shoulder, and is easily reached by a local train from Napoli Centrali Stazione.