in this issue Volcanos of Italy Visit Hell Pilgrimage to the Father of Geology Italian Geology on the Internet Pompeii & Herculaneum Places to Hunt for Rocks Travel Tip - Visiting Pompeii Words of the Week: Rocks and Stones

If you like rocks, explore the rich geology of Italy. You will go places that aren't packed with tourists. You will enjoy the outdoors, and breathe in some fresh air and, if you like, some very stinky air. Italy has spectacular geology from errupting volcanoes to fossil filled hills and even an entrance to Hell itself.

Volcanoes of Italy

If you want to see a different Italy, visit volcanoes. Mt Etna in Sicily has erupted as recently as 2001 and a new eruption is predicted in the near future. Vesuvius near Naples was in virtually constant eruption for three centuries until 1944 and has been inactive since. Stromboli, on an island off the coast, is one of the few volcanoes on earth displaying continuous eruptive activity for more than a couple of centuries; evidence of ongoing activity goes back at least 2500 years!

You can go right to the rim of the caldera of Vesuvius. Some experts think that the volcano could be getting ready for another phase of eruptions. The view from the volcano is tremendous. You can see the beautiful bay of Naples, Pompeii, and Herculaneum on a clear day.

And, of course, you can enjoy seeing all kinds of volcanic rocks. My first rock collection started with a piece of Vesuvius. Although that collection stayed in Naples, I can always find room for a nice little rock from every place I go.

Eye Wonder Book about Volcanoes...

	Visit Hell
The entrance Hell, according to the ancient Romans, is located near Naples at Solfatara and you can visit it -- the entrance, that is. Solfatara has much to commend it if you are interested in geology: small volcanoes of boiling mud, steaming jets of sulfurous vapor, crystals forming of sulfur, alum, and the beautiful, deadly, red arsenic. The name says it: sulfur earth (solfa terra). You will be able to experience the smell of Hell itself: sulphur or brimstone, "burning stone," that burns with a blue flame and a suffocating odor. Nearby is a recently formed cinder cone mountain called Monte Nuovo, new mountain, that was formed in one week in 1538. It is so comparatively new that it is easy to identify the different elements of the eruption, basaltic flow, basalt bombs, and pumice. Speaking of Hell, Italy's most famous writer Dante Aleghieri (1265-1321) wrote a book, The Divine Comedy, describing Heaven, Purgatory, and Hell in full detail. People seem to be most interested in Hell. Why, do you think? He even described some of his enemies and their sufferings there. Look for quotes from his works throughout Italy. For example: "The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who in time of great moral crisis maintain their neutrality." Dante In between Heaven and Hells is Purgatory and you can visit the tiny Museum of the Souls of Purgatory in Rome that contains a collection of signs sent from beyond the grave by souls stranded in Purgatory. The Italy Discovery Journal offers more than 500 ideas like the above. You cans spend as little as $6.99 for the print-it-yourself eBook. If you don't have time to do it yourself, we have done it for you and offer the printed, bound book, complete with pockets for $17.99 plus postage. Order the Italy Discovery Journal... »

	Pilgrimage to the Father of Geology
While you are in Florence you can make a pilgrimage to the tomb of the man who laid the foundations for the study of geology, Nicholas Steno or Stenonis. His tomb is located in the San Lorenzo church where the famous (and somewhat strange) Medici tombs are found. Yours will be a unique pilgrimage because you won't find information about his tomb in any guidebook and you'll have to ask someone who works at the church to let you into his chapel. There you will find his tomb covered with notes from today's scientists. If you were going to write him a note, what would you say? Steno studied fossils in 1666-9 and came to conclusions that were remarkable because they were so different from the theories of the day. He had to be very careful not to anger the the Catholic church that approved or denied all scientific publications. This was only twenty years after the death of Galileo who was imprisoned for life by the Church after he claimed the Earth rotated around the Sun. If you read a book about Steno, you can enjoy all the fantastic explanations for fossils that Steno had to contend with. As usual, his explanations took several centuries to become accepted because Church control of science was based on the idea that the Bible was the only source of historical and scientific information. One of the explanations for fossils was that they were decorations of the underworld like flowers are for us. No one believed that they could have once really be seashells because they were found in places such as mountain tops. A popular theory was that all things grew, even rocks. After all, crystals grow, and every farmer knew that if he picked up all the rocks in his fields one year, the next spring more will have grown to replace them. So the explanation was extended to mountains growing and fossils growing inside them.  I recommend the book linked below. It isn't written for children but it isn't difficult and it isn't long. The Seashell on the Mountaintop... »

	Italian Geology on the Internet
The ultimate site on Italian volcanoes is Italy's Volcanoes, the Cradle of Volcanology. It offers much information for a volcano lover to delve into, including up to date information on volcanic activity in Italy and its history. Volcanology From Myth to Science traces explanations for volcanoes from Greek myths to Roman times. Here are some Photos of the Solfatara Volcano. Enjoy this Interactive website for exploring Vesuvius and the towns buried by its eruption. There are some nice animations. You truly have to explore because the structure of the site isn't clear. A photo travelogue so you will know what to expect.

	Pompeii & Herculaneum
There are many delights in visiting Pompeii and don't forget Herculaneum, a city that was inundated with lava instead of the ash that buried Pompeii. You can see the geologic aftermath of the volcano, learn about everyday life in Roman times, appreciate the way homes and stores were laid out, and view beautiful mosaics and ceramics. The philosophy of this newsletter is that people, including children, cannot enjoy the historical aspects of tourism if they have no context and don't understand why some ruin, a dusty pile of rocks, is interesting. Do help prepare your family to enjoy Pompeii and the rest of your travels with books and videos. Even when history is just a backdrop to an enjoyable, fictional story, a traveler can remember the story or imagine him or herself in the historical time when visiting a historical site. I review the available books and videos for suggestions appropriate for different ages and interests with the idea of saving you time. Vacation Under The Volcano (Magic Treehouse) Jack and his sister Annie are whisked away to ancient Rome in the magic tree house so they can get an ancient story that is in danger of being lost forever. Soon they find out that they are in Pompeii the very day Mount Vesuvius will erupt! Can they escape and get the story? The Secret Of Vesuvius Young detective Flavia Gemina and her sidekicks Jonathan, Nubia and Lupus return in The Secrets of Vesuvius.They investigate a potentially treasure-yielding riddle, but when Vesuvius erupts, the friends run for their lives. Pompeii...Buried Alive! (Step into History) What happens to everyday people in Pompeii when Vesuvius errupts. Escape From Pompeii Children who thrive on disasters will get a taste of the effects of the inferno in this fictionalized account. Pompeii and Herculaneum Describes the design, economy, food and drink, homes, gardens, culture, destruction, and ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the two cities buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. And here are some videos for the family to enjoy with popcorn and some Italian beverages (see: What's a Barista Newsletter) Ancient Mysteries: Pompeii - Buried Alive National Geographic's In the Shadow of Vesuvius NOVA: Deadly Shadow of Vesuvius » Single Country Rail Passes: choose your country in Europe

	Places to Hunt for Rocks
First, a warning, it is not legal to directly collect rocks or fossils in Italy. Everything on the ground is the property of the country. You may look at interesting rocks, but you must purchase any rock samples from vendors who, presumably, have a license to collect. Colline Metallifere: The metal-bearing hills of Tuscany are populated with charming hill towns. You can find wonderful rock shops in some of them. I can vouch for Massa Marittima's rock shop that is filled with gorgeous crystals, most of which are local. There is also a small mining museum there. Carrara: The white marble of Carrara has been prized by sculptors for centuries. You can see how marble is quarried and graded for different uses. Speaking of marble, you will see it everywhere in Italy. You can enjoy all the colors in comes in. Populonia: See slag from ancient Etruscan furnaces. Tumbled in the ocean, the pieces resemble meteorites. Find a beach made out of iron filings.

	Travel Tip - Visiting Pompeii
If you engage a guide to visit Pompeii, try to ensure that s/he is sensitive to childrens' attention span. Packaged and guided tours can be marvelously informative, but if they are geared for adults, the kids may be done long before the tour is. These archeological sites have little shade, so in the summer they can be blazing hot. Pompeii is also large, so plan ahead to see a few great places instead of trying to see it all. The casts of the people of Pompeii who were buried alive are very dramatic and fascinate many children but can upset others. MAPS!

	Italian Words : Rocks and Stones
For rocky conversations, here is some vocabulary: la rocchia: rock la pietra: rock, stone il minerale: mineral il sasso: a stone il fossile: fossil il marmo: marble il cristallo: crystal

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