Solfatara () is a shallow

volcanic crater A volcanic crater is an approximately circular depression in the ground caused by volcanic activity. It is typically a bowl-shaped feature containing one or more vents. During volcanic eruptions, molten magma and volcanic gases rise from an ...

at Pozzuoli, near

Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...

, part of the Phlegraean Fields () volcanic area. It is a

dormant volcano A volcano is commonly defined as a vent or fissure in the crust of a planetary-mass object, such as Earth, that allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface. On Earth, volcanoes are most often ...

, which still emits jets of steam with

sulfur Sulfur ( American spelling and the preferred IUPAC name) or sulphur ( Commonwealth spelling) is a chemical element; it has symbol S and atomic number 16. It is abundant, multivalent and nonmetallic. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms ...

ous fumes. The name comes from the

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

, ''Sulpha terra'', "land of

", or "sulfur earth". It was formed around 4000 years ago and last erupted in 1198 with what was probably a ''phreatic'' eruption – an explosive steam-driven eruption caused when

groundwater Groundwater is the water present beneath Earth's surface in rock and Pore space in soil, soil pore spaces and in the fractures of stratum, rock formations. About 30 percent of all readily available fresh water in the world is groundwater. A unit ...

interacts with

magma Magma () is the molten or semi-molten natural material from which all igneous rocks are formed. Magma (sometimes colloquially but incorrectly referred to as ''lava'') is found beneath the surface of the Earth, and evidence of magmatism has also ...

. The crater floor was a popular tourist attraction until 2017, as it has many fumaroles and mud pools. The area is well known for its bradyseism. The vapours had been used for medical purposes since Roman times. This volcano is where the thermoacidophilic archaeon '' Sulfolobus solfataricus'' was first isolated. The archaeon is named for the volcano, as most species of the genus ''Sulfolobus'' are named for the area where they are first isolated.

Notable events

Saint Proculus (the patron saint of Pozzuoli) and Saint Januarius (the patron saint of Naples) were beheaded at Solfatara in 305. In 2017, three people—an 11-year-old boy and his parents—died, when they fell into a chasm. Initial rumors that claimed that the boy had entered an off-limits area of the crater were declared false by an eyewitness who had watched the scene unfold from her balcony. According to the eyewitness, the family were on the official walking path, when the 11-year-old slipped into the unsecured chasm. His parents died in an attempt to save him. The only survivor was the boy's 7-year-old brother.

Gallery

File:Solfatara crater.jpg, Panoramic view of the crater towards the southeast File:Mud pool in Solfatara crater.jpg, Close-up view of a mud pool File:Medium fumarole in Solfatara crater.jpg, Medium size fumarole in Solfatara File:Fumarole in Solfatara crater (close up).jpg, Biggest fumarole in Solfatara File:Il Vero disegno in svl propio lvogho ritratto del infelice paese di Posvolo ... ali 29 de Setenbre 1538.jpg, Map of the Campania region showing the 1538 eruption of the Solfatara volcano northeast of Pozzuoli near Naples. 1 map ; 289 x 423 mm (neat line), 295 x 428 mm (plate mark). Forms part of the Franco Novacco Map Collection at the Newberry Library.

References

* Campanian volcanic arc Volcanoes of Italy Landforms of Campania Phlegraean Fields {{Campania-geo-stub

Notable events

Gallery

See also

References