An area of southern Italy near Naples has been experiencing a surge in seismic activity over the last few days.

Campi Flegrei (Phlegraean Fields) is a volcanic caldera near Naples, Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii.

The volatile landscape was shaken by a 4.4 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday night which, together with a tremor in May, was the strongest in 40 years.

In May, hundreds of residents and the inmates of a women’s prison in the seaside town of Pozzuoli were evacuated and schools were closed.

Residents have been warned that evacuations may be enforced again if the seismic activity continues.

The government has earmarked €500 million for evacuations and safety interventions such as strengthening buildings.

If you are visiting Naples or the surrounding area, here’s what you need to know.

What is happening on the Campi Flegrei?

The Campi Flegrei is an active volcanic crater and the largest of its kind in Europe. The last major eruption of the supervolcano was in 1538.

Now, a buildup of magma or gases beneath the surface is causing an uptick in seismic activity.

The area experiences a phenomenon known as bradyseism, where the ground rises and falls due to under-surface pressure.

Though scientists say another eruption soon is unlikely, many of the roughly 500,000 people who live in the red zone directly adjacent to the Campi Flegrei say they live in constant anxiety.

Is it safe to visit Naples and Pompeii?

The Campi Flegrei lie around 20 kilometres from Naples. The southern Italian city has been feeling the tremors but there have been no casualties and or major damage to buildings.

Vesuvius and the archaeological park of Pompeii are also close to the volcanic crater.

The red zone, where residents would be evacuated in the event of an eruption, includes the towns of Pozzuoli and Bacoli.

Some suburbs of Naples also lie in the red zone including Chiaia and Vomero. The rest of Naples lies in the yellow zone – areas at risk of significant volcanic ash falls during an eruption – while Vesuvius and Pompeii lie outside.

In May, the UK’s Foreign Office updated its advice for travel to southern Italy.

“There are several active volcanoes in southern Italy. National emergency planning has been updated for Vesuvius as well as the Phlegraean fields, an area that remains active and which has experienced tremors in 2024.”

It advises travellers to follow the instructions of the local authorities in the event of an eruption.

If you are planning on visiting red or yellow zones, make sure you stay updated with the latest information on the Civil Protection Agency website.

Their instructions on how to prepare for volcanic activity including lava falls, volcanic bombs and mudslides can be found here.

Will there be evacuations from Campi Flegrei?

So far there have not been any evacuations, but they could happen.

The Italian government has put aside €500 million for evacuations and safety interventions such as strengthening buildings.

In May, Italy’s Civil Protection Department ran a series of planned seismic evacuation tests in the area.

The tests involved residents of Pozzuoli and Bagnoli, and simulated a ‘type-3 situation’ – the worst possible scenario in the event of an earthquake.

A new fleet of TGV trains is set to hit the rails in France and the first images of their stylish interiors have been released.

The TGV INOUI (previously called TGV-M) series is the fifth generation of the trains produced for national rail operator SNCF by manufacturer Alstom, and they will begin carrying passengers at the start of 2026.

They will start circulating on the Paris-Lyon-Marseille route – the busiest high-speed line in the country – before being phased in across the rest of the network.

The redesign includes a two-storey bar, extra legroom and improved access for disabled passengers.

New TGV trains will have better WiFi and bigger capacity

The new trains will have an extra carriage increasing capacity by up to 20 per cent compared to the current models – or a maximum of 740 passengers per train.

Access for disabled travellers has been improved thanks to a dedicated coach with wheelchair-friendly facilities like a lift between its two floors and “service at-the-seat” catering.

Passengers with a 5G-compatible mobile contract will benefit from improved connectivity and stronger WiFi.

There will be fewer doors dividing carriages, making it easier for passengers to keep an eye on their suitcases on luggage racks while they travel.

These new trains will also be 20 per cent more energy-efficient due to their aerodynamic design, which will result in CO2 savings of 50 per cent compared with single-deck high-speed trains, SNCF says. A bonus emissions saving for anyone looking to travel by high-speed rail to avoid a short haul flight.

New TGV interiors made from recyclable materials

On top of their aerodynamic, emissions-cutting design, the new fleet is made from 25 per cent recycled materials which will be 97 per cent recyclable, according to SNCF, making it the high-speed train with the lowest carbon footprint on the market.

The interiors are the result of a collaboration between designers from the French agency AREP and the Japanese agency Nendo.

The concept of the project was “flow”, and the designers “played with the idea of depth inside, with a strong horizon line running through all the elements and giving the impression of the surface of water.”

The details of the seats and the striking yellow table lamps draw inspiration from the soft shapes of pebbles and objects polished by water.

Standard class seats now have individual plug sockets (currently one is shared between two passengers), a mini table, and up to 5cm of extra legroom.

Seats in first class are 5cm wider, allowing you to place small personal belongings beside you, and have wrap-around, height-adjustable headrests and electric seat recline.

New TGV trains will have a two-storey bar

One of the most exciting developments is the major redesign of the fleet’s bar carriage.

Named Le Bistro, its lower floor is given over to self-service fridges, coffee machines and microwaves with payment via self-service terminals. The upper storey is designed as a ‘convivial’ space for sit-down dining with seats for up to 28 passengers.

The menu will feature typical French bistro dishes. 65 per cent of suppliers are French and 100 per cent of the meat on the menu is of French origin.

There will be three different seasonal menus during the year and each will include a ‘dish of the month’.

Auctioning off houses for €1 has become a common way for Italy’s depopulated villages to boost their resident numbers.

Now, one town in Sicily is using a similar scheme to entice more tourists to visit.

For less than the price of an espresso, holidaymakers can spend a long weekend in the coastal town of Siculiana, Sicily.

The €1 getaway hopes to draw more visitors to the area during the off-season and put the destination on tourists’ radars.

What do you get on a €1 holiday in this Sicilian town?

Siculiana is offering a handful of lucky travellers an all-expenses paid escape – all they have to fork out for is Sicily’s €1 tourist tax.

Accommodation, meals and guided tours for a two-night stay are all included in the offer, although holidaymakers have to make their own way to the town on the island’s west coast.

The getaway is organised by the Siculiana Tourism Board and winners will stay in one of the organisation’s partner facilities.

On arrival, the selected visitors will be greeted with a welcome drink at the hotel, and they will also enjoy a drink by the marina at the end of the break.

There will be guided excursions to the area’s highlights, such as the Siculiana Marina and the Torres Salsa Nature Reserve with protected beaches and dramatic cliffs.

But to be in with a chance of winning, you’ll have to get creative.

Those interested in applying for the bargain break will have to submit an original video explaining their motives for wanting to participate.

If you’ve never heard of Siculiana, this might be tricky. But the Siculiana Tourism Board lists a few ideas of things to say such as ‘we deserve a holiday’, ‘we love Sicily’, and ‘we want to eat Sicilian food’.

To apply, you must be over 18 and film your video as a pair. Make sure you include your relationship (e.g. friends, family, or spouses), ages, city of residence, and telephone and email contact details in your application.

The submissions will be judged by the Tourism Board, which is looking for various elements in a successful application, including originality and creativity, reasons for visiting, and enthusiasm and desire to discover Siculiana.

There are spots for 10 duos available and winners will be announced on 20 March. The first holiday will take place from 4-6 April.

Applications must be submitted by 15 March.

During the holiday, participants will be required to record a video diary of their time in Siculiana, sharing the highlights of each day with the Tourism Board.