Located on the southernmost of the Aeolian Islands, the active cone of Vulcano has impressed the Ancient Greek and Romans that much that they considered it the home of their underworld divinity, Hephaistos or Vulcanus. Even though as a mountain it is neither very conspicuous nor aesthetically appealing, it is one of Italy's most significant active volcanic centers, mostly due to its high hazard potential. The highest point of the island (Monte Aria, a portion of an older caldera rim) rises just to 500 m above the sea level and the summit of the historically active Fossa cone does not even reach 400 m. In contrast, the present island is the result of a complex geological history, which extends back about 150,000 years. The youngest portion of the island, Vulcanello, formed only during the past ~2200 years, adding a small cluster of pyroclastic cones and a surrounding lava platform to the north of the Fossa cone.
Vulcano has three population centers, the smallest of which is Gelso on the south tip of the island. The village of Piano - which is rather a scattered accumulation of small buildings - lies on the marvellous plateau of the same name that constitutes the south-central portion of the island. A complex settlement named Vulcano Porto extends from the immediate N base of the Fossa cone to the isthmus connecting Vulcano with Vulcanello and covers large parts of the Vulcanello peninsula. This is the hub of economic and touristic activity on the island and is visited by thousands of tourists on each day during the tourist season. This settlement lies immediately at the base of the historically active Fossa cone and would be at serious risk in the case of a new eruption of that cone. It has numerous hotels and other tourist facilities, and also includes the famous mud pool where visitors can take a bath (the price is 1 Euro) in the softly bubbling mud, which is said to have beneficent effects on one's skin. The main attraction on the island, though, is the large crater, known as the Gran Cratere, that truncates the Fossa cone - the prototype of a volcanic crater. A field of active fumaroles and extensive sulfur deposits lies in the northern-central portion of this crater, providing a thrilling experience for those who dare to walk (or run) right across the gas plume emitted from the fumaroles. The vivid stench of sulfur dioxide within the plume is just the most evident indicator of toxic gases, and it is advisable to stay as briefly as possible within the plume and better wear a gas mask. Prolonged stays in the plume may lead to undesirable effects, such as the (irreversible) loss of the sense of smell.
During the historical period, the Fossa cone and Vulcanello have been the site of frequent and vigorous eruptions, the most recent of which occurred in 1888-1890 at the Fossa. More recently, the Gran Cratere of the Fossa cone has been the site of volcanic unrest (most notably, an increase of the fumarolic activity) which began around 1985 and ended in 1995 without culminating in an eruption. This episode of unrest has triggered increased public awareness about the volcanic risk at Vulcano, and intense studies of the volcano and its behavior of which the references cited below are only a small fraction. It is the aim of these pages to present a comprehensive image of the volcano, its behavior, and hazards. Geological studies have shown that most eruptions of the Fossa cone have been violently explosive and produced pyroclastic flows and surges. Future eruptions have to be expected to be of a similar character. The close proximity of the village of Vulcano Porto therefore warrants timely warning to all people in the area in case of renewed eruptive activity.