Italy is a geologically dynamic nation, positioned within a complex zone of tectonic activity. The number of volcanoes in the country is not a single figure, but a spectrum based on geological activity. Italy is home to approximately 10 major volcanic systems that are either currently active or considered dormant. This intense geological activity has shaped the landscape of the Italian peninsula and its surrounding islands.
The Official Count: Active, Dormant, and Submerged Volcanoes
The official count of Italian volcanoes varies depending on the criteria used by institutions like the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV). Scientists classify these systems into categories reflecting their current state. The most straightforward count recognizes two volcanoes as currently active: Mount Etna and Stromboli, which maintain open conduits and have erupted recently.
A larger group is classified as dormant, meaning they have erupted within the last 10,000 years but are currently quiescent. This category includes highly monitored systems such as Mount Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei, Ischia, and Vulcano, totaling around eight major centers. Volcanoes that have not erupted for over 10,000 years, such as Roccamonfina and the Amiata volcano, are defined as extinct.
A significant number of volcanic structures are also submerged beneath the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Strait of Sicily. The Marsili Seamount, for example, is a massive underwater volcano nearly 3,000 meters high. It is considered one of the largest and potentially most active submerged systems in Europe.
Italy’s Most Notable Volcanic Systems
Mount Etna, located on the island of Sicily, is the most active volcano in Europe and one of the most persistently erupting volcanoes globally. This stratovolcano frequently exhibits effusive eruptions, involving the steady outpouring of lava flows, interspersed with occasional explosive events. Etna’s constant activity and summit exceeding 3,300 meters make it a focal point for volcanological research.
North of Sicily, in the Gulf of Naples, lies Mount Vesuvius, known for its catastrophic 79 AD eruption that buried Pompeii and Herculaneum. Vesuvius is a composite stratovolcano that has been quiescent since its last major eruption in 1944. Because it is located in the densely populated region of Campania, it is closely monitored, with scientists tracking ground deformation and gas emissions.
Adjacent to Vesuvius is the Campi Flegrei, or Phlegraean Fields, which is a vast, restless caldera system underlying the western suburbs of Naples. The area is characterized by intense hydrothermal activity, including hot springs and fumaroles, and experiences cycles of ground uplift and subsidence known as bradyseism. This high-risk system has the potential for powerful, explosive eruptions, making its monitoring a primary concern for the Italian Civil Protection Department.
The Tectonic Drivers of Italian Volcanism
The presence of numerous active and dormant volcanoes in Italy is a direct consequence of large-scale plate tectonics in the Mediterranean basin. Italian volcanism is driven by the convergence and collision between the African tectonic plate and the Eurasian plate. This slow movement creates immense pressure and complex geological dynamics beneath the surface.
In southern Italy, the African plate is actively subducting, or sinking, beneath the Eurasian plate along the Calabrian Arc. This process drags oceanic crust into the hotter mantle, causing it to dehydrate and release fluids. These fluids lower the melting point of the overlying mantle rock, generating magma that rises through the crust to feed volcanic arcs.
The geological structure is further complicated by extensional forces, which led to the opening of the Tyrrhenian Sea and created zones of crustal weakness. Mount Etna is thought to be located at a complex intersection point, possibly fueled by magma rising through a deep tear in the subducting slab. This interplay of subduction and localized rifting explains the diversity in the type and chemistry of Italian volcanoes.