The Vesuvius Observatory is the surveillance centre for monitoring the three volcanoes which threaten the Campanian region of Italy: Mount Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei and Ischia. Founded in 1841 on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius (the operative center is now based in Naples) by Ferdinando II di Borbone, king of "Due Sicile", it is the oldest volcanology institute in the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesuvius_Observatory