The Solfatara is a volcanic crater born after an eruption of about 5.000 years ago. It belongs to a kind of eruptive activity called “monogenica”, that is to say produced by a unique volcanic event. Though this volcano is not longer fed with magma, it presents a lot various manifestations, such as fumaroles, mud, trembling and ground alteration. The name Solfatara derives from its sulphur gases (Solpha Terra), though ancient people used to call this place Colles Leucogei (Leukos means “white”) for the white color of the ground, or Hephaistou Agorà, referring to the forge of god Efesto. The great crater is very similar to a lunar landscape and by going counterclockwise through the volcano’s perimeter you can see the Big Mouth, that is to say the main Solfatara’s fumarole. Not far from here there are the ruins of the ancient Bourbon Volcanic Observatory now became an important place for the seismographic and geochemical monitoring. It is also possible to admire two arch structures used as sudatori in the 19th century. The water thermal activity has allowed the consolidation of some chemical compounds such as the sulphur, mercury and antimony crystals.
Solfatara
Via Solfatara, 161 - Pozzuoli
Ph. 081.5262341; 081.5267413
website:www.solfatara.it
Every day from 8.30 a.m. to 19.00 p.m.
Full ticket € 5.50
Reduced ticket € 5.00 (for groups of 15 persons and more)
Youngsters (up to 10 years of age) and Italian school groups €4.00
(free for 1 teacher on 10 students)
Ticket with Campania Artecard: € 4.40
Children up to 4 years of age: free
