As simple as it seems, the reason that so many people died – and an entire city was buried for hundreds of years – when Vesuvius erupted was because the wind was blowing in a northwesterly direction. Typically, research suggests, the wind would have been blowing from the southwest instead.
That would have meant that the debris was blown away from the city, instead of covering it as it did. It is incredible to think that such a small factor caused so much death and destruction, leaving behind a well-preserved Roman city.
From Vatican artistic masterpieces to the pristine beauty of Faroe Islands, Europe's smallest countries have a wealth of experiences to offer the traveler…