Monte Nuovo

Monte Nuovo is the volcanic cone created by the eruption that began on 29 September 1538 in the Campi Flegrei. Rising near Lakes Averno and Lucrino, it records a rapid and dramatic transformation of a landscape already shaped by ancient settlement and thermal activity.

Why it matters

The cone has an unusually well-documented historical origin. Contemporary accounts and later geological research connect the formation of a new landform with the destruction of Tripergole and major changes around Lake Lucrino.

What to notice

The cone and its crater contrast with the neighbouring lake basins and coastal plain. Their close proximity shows how successive volcanic events produced different elements of the Phlegraean landscape, rather than a single regular mountain range.

Context and history

Seismic activity and ground uplift preceded the eruption. Explosive activity in late September and early October 1538 built the new cone and overwhelmed the thermal settlement of Tripergole. Monte Nuovo's formation remains a central episode in the historical study of the Campi Flegrei, linking eyewitness testimony with the geological record.