On Thursday 8 February 2024, 45 Year 11 GCSE Geography pupils joined Miss Bluett, Miss Cesek, Miss Crouch, Miss Graham and Mr Ellen on a trip to Italy. There were many opportunities to make links to topics they have studied in class including urbanisation, volcanic hazards, coastal processes and management.

Day One: An Introduction to Italy

After an early start, we made our way to Gatwick airport. After a quick check in, we were soon boarding our flight and many pupils and staff enjoyed the opportunity to catch up on some sleep. After landing in Naples-Capodichino International Airport we met Bernie, our guide for the week. We enjoyed a walking tour of the historical centre of Naples and dodged many mopeds zooming around the narrow streets and alleys. With a street food resurgence, pupils enjoyed a wide array of Neapolitan treats for lunch including pizza, arancini, cuoppi and gelato. We then made our way underground on a tour of a vast labyrinth of underground tunnels and chambers, dating back to 2,500 years ago. Our guide was very knowledgeable and showed us Roman theatres and markets, ancient aqueducts and even WWII air-raid shelters. After our tour, we made our way to our accommodation, where pupils were glad to have an opportunity to rest before an early night.

Day Two: Amalfi Coast

After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast we headed towards Positano. This village is an iconic landmark on the Amalfi coast and as we drove the winding coastal road we could see why. With narrow streets, pastel-coloured houses clinging to the cliffs and many coastal landmarks and features there was lots to photograph at the viewpoints we stopped at.  

Around lunchtime we arrived in Amalfi, a UNESCO world heritage site and a holiday hotspot for the rich and famous. As the sun came out, we enjoyed exploring the small town with its beautiful cathedral, shingle beach and numerous cafés and coffee shops off the Piazza Duomo. After some time for lunch we met at the jetty for a boat tour. This allowed us to see the coastline from a different angle. The Amalfi coast is surrounded by cliffs eroded from calcareous dolomitic rock, a form of limestone. On our trip we saw evidence of the long-term instability of the coastline, including collapsed caves, stacks and arches as well as the management techniques being used to reduce the risk for residents and visitors. When we arrived in Salerno, pupils enjoyed some free time to explore the tree-lined seafront promenade and purchase souvenirs with some even enjoying a spot of fishing from the harbour.

In the evening we visited Pizza a Metro – also known as the University of Pizza. With the assistance of an expert ‘Pizzaiolo’ each pupil prepared their own authentic Italian pizza. This was a highlight of the trip for many.

Day Three: Vesuvius and Pompeii 

After breakfast at the hotel we travelled to the infamous Mount Vesuvius – the only active volcano in mainland Europe. As the bus slowly wound around the flanks of Vesuvius we all got a sense of the scale of this composite volcano. Bernie pointed out the solidified lava flow from the most recent eruption in 1944 and showed us photos taken of the eruption as it progressed. She was also keen to point out the Vesuvius observatory and reassure pupils that earthquake and volcanic activity is constantly being monitored in this area. The bus dropped us off at the hiking trail and we continued on foot to the summit of the volcano.

On reaching the summit, pupils could look down into the crater of the volcano and out across the Bay of Naples where the guides pointed out the locations of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Both of these Roman cities were destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD79. Unfortunately, the weather declined and the wind and rain cut our Vesuvius visit shorter than planned. However, the experience was definitely a memorable one! We descended and met the bus again before sheltering in a nearby restaurant for lunch and a chance to dry out and warm up.

In the afternoon we visited Pompeii. Despite the continuing drizzle our pupils were attentive and asked the guides many thoughtful questions. The guides showed us the ruins of the forum, temples, villas, theatres and bathhouses, and explained what daily life was like in ancient Roman times. They also explained the impacts of the AD79 eruption of Vesuvius which destroyed the town. After visiting Naples earlier in the week, this was also a chance to reflect on the impact a future eruption of Vesuvius could have on modern settlements in the region.

Day Four: Sorrento and Herculaneum

On Sunday morning, we checked out of our hotel and made our way into Sorrento where pupils were taken on a short orientation walk. Pupils then had some free time with many choosing to enjoy gelato, pastries and crêpes, while others went down to the beach or enjoyed some last-minute souvenir shopping.

Meeting our coach mid-morning we journeyed to our last stop before heading home – Herculaneum. Herculaneum was heavily impacted by the same eruption that destroyed Pompeii but in contrast to the trading centre of Pompeii, Herculaneum was a wealthy Roman holiday resort. We were shown intricate mosaics and a number of artefacts including statues and jewellery which had been buried and preserved by pyroclastic flows and mud flows in AD79.

Our second trip to Italy was a great success. Many of our guides commented on the attitudes and excellent behaviour of the group; they were a credit to the whole school community. I hope that the trip will give pupils a deeper understanding of the processes we study in class and wonderful memories for years to come.

Miss Bluett, Trip Leader

Pupil comments include: