Situated at the northern periphery of Pompeii, this territory, now the town of Terzigno, sat closest to Vesuvius.  The rich volcanic soil in the area—a remnant of previous eruptions—made Terzigno an ideal site for the cultivating of wine grapes.  Indeed, the layout of the complexes uncovered at the site, the presence of torcularia (wine presses) and wine storage chambers, and the proximity of agricultural land have made it easy to identify these sites as vineyards and farms.

The initial phase of the eruption, at mid-day on August 24, began as a flow of grayish ashes that came as quite a surprise to the peasants working in the fields below the volcano.  Soon a cloud of ashes blotted out the sun.  Continual earthquake shocks and deafening noises forced the peasants to rush back to the farmsteads, while others pressed on to seek refuge in Pompeii or near the coast at Oplontis.

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