Monte Nuovo: The Birth of a Volcano in 1538 That Shook Campi Flegrei

In 1538, after centuries of dormancy, the Earth ruptured open near the Bay of Naples to unleash one of Europe’s most remarkable volcanic events—the formation of Monte Nuovo, a brand-new volcano born in just a matter of days. This eruption within the Campi Flegrei (Phlegraean Fields) caldera reshaped the landscape, buried Roman ruins, and served as a stark reminder that this ancient supervolcano was far from dead. Though small in scale, the 1538 eruption signaled a reawakening of deep magmatic forces in one of the most dangerous volcanic regions on Earth—where the next eruption could dwarf the last. This blog explores the geologic drama behind Monte Nuovo’s sudden birth and why Campi Flegrei remains under constant scientific watch.