The country is situated at the meeting point of the Eurasian Plate and the African Plate , leading to considerable seismic and volcanic activity . There are 14 volcanoes in Italy , four of which are active : Etna , Stromboli , Vulcano and Vesuvius . The last is the only active volcano in mainland Europe and is most famous for the destruction of Pompeii and Herculanum in the eruption in 79 AD . Several islands and hills have been created by volcanic activity , and there is still a large active caldera , the Campi Flegrei north-west of Naples
eruption in 79 AD
Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79
Italy