Mount Vesuvius has erupted many times . The famous eruption in AD 79 was preceded by numerous others in prehistory , including at least three significantly larger ones , the best known being the Avellino eruption around 1800 BC which engulfed several Bronze Age settlements . Since AD 79 , the volcano has also erupted repeatedly , in 172 , 203 , 222 , possibly in 303 , 379 , 472 , 512 , 536 , 685 , 787 , around 860 , around 900 , 968 , 991 , 999 , 1006 , 1037 , 1049 , around 1073 , 1139 , 1150 , and there may have been eruptions in 1270 , 1347 , and 1500 . The volcano erupted again in 1631 , six times in the 18th century ( including 1779 and 1794 ) , eight times in the 19th century ( notably in 1872 ) , and in 1906 , 1929 and 1944 . There have been no eruptions since 1944 , and none of the eruptions after AD 79 were as large or destructive as the Pompeian one
Avellino eruption
Avellino eruption
Mount Vesuvius