Mount Vesuvius, located in Southern Italy, has erupted 50 times since the time of the Roman Empire, making it Europe's most active volcano. Its most significant eruption, in 79 A.D., buried the great cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum and essentially encapsulated an historic moment at the height of the Roman Empire. This moment is the main focus of National Geographic: In the Shadow of Vesuvius. After a brief introduction to the mountain's history, the cameras follow a group of archaeologists as they travel to the site of Pompeii and unearth several pristine artifacts that help piece together a clear vision of Roman society.
