The Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, currently one of the largest European Insitute of Research in Geophysics and Volcanology, seismic and volcanoes monitoring, has its headquarters in Rome and other Sections in Milano, Bologna, Pisa, Napoli (Osservatorio Vesuviano), Catania and Palermo. It is funded by the Ministry of Education, University and Scientific Research (MIUR) and the Civil Protection Dept. INGV pays also special attention to Education and Outreach project and activities, mainly through publications, scientific exhibitions and dedicated Internet pages.

The Osservatorio Vesuviano, founded in 1841 as the first volcanological observatory in the World, conducts researches in several fields of Volcanology Geophysics and Geochemistry. Research activities, developed at the OV Surveillance Centre in Naples, cover the comprehensive monitoring of active Neapolitan volcanoes:  Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei and Ischia Island, and the seismic monitoring of Stromboli Island.

Vesuvius Observatory carries out education and outreach projects and activities in order to promote natural hazard awareness and scientific culture, even in collaboration with Italian Civil Protection Dept. The Museum of Osservatorio Vesuviano, located in the historical building on Vesuvius slope, is daily visited by students from primary school to University.

Due to this experience the participation of Osservatorio Vesuviano to RACCE Project is of great importance, in particular in developing appropriate practices for children and interacting with other European countries educational programs.