Volcanic eruptions can severely impact communities and global climate, making eruption monitoring and response planning crucial. Understanding processes leading to eruptions is essential, especially for mafic volcanoes which erupt explosively despite their low viscosity which typically leads to effusive eruptions. Here I examine Colli Albani, a mafic-alkaline volcano, as a case study for explosive eruptions of low-viscosity magma. Using a multidisciplinary approach, including clinopyroxene thermobarometry, isotope geochemistry, tomography, and volatile analysis, I identify key processes driving its explosive behavior. These findings provide a framework for processes leading Colli Albani eruptions. The magma accumulated in a short timescale in the upper crust and was volatile rich in order to accumulate large volumes without erupting. Additionally, the magma source for Colli Albani comes from the mantle and ascends rapidly. This framework enhances understanding of explosive mafic volcanism worldwide and informs reactivation timescales for long-quiescent calderas like Colli Albani.