Bay of Naples Geography School Trip

Make the exciting hike to the summit of Vesuvius in the company of a specialist local volcanology guide. A steep 30-minute hike leads to the desolate, lunar-like summit. Standing next to the crater's edge you may see steaming vents, a reminder that while Vesuvius is dormant, it may yet erupt again. Indeed, the last eruption was as recently as 1944. You can hike around the crater rim where you get spectacular views of Naples and the Bay.

The ancient city of Herculaneum was buried in mud in the same cataclysm that destroyed Pompeii. Herculaneum was struck by a succession of cataclysmic pyroclastic flows which covered it with thick volcanic mud and ash. The city is notable for the high standard of preservation of its houses and public baths as well as various perishable materials such as wood, textiles and scrolls. The Roman sea shore has been exposed during the excavations and a Roman boat has been preserved in a special museum.

The famous Roman ruins at Pompeii give a fascinating glimpse into Roman life. In AD 79 the fury of Vesuvius was unleashed upon this prosperous city, killing many of its inhabitants and burying it under a thick layer of pumice and ash. Today, the excavations reveal the ruins of the city’s amphitheatres, forum, baths, streets and many splendid houses, some with their elaborate frescoes still visible. One of these mosaic frescoes famously bears the Latin phrase ‘Cave Canem’ meaning ‘Beware of the Dog’, reminding us that these were people like ourselves whose lives were ordinary until the cataclysmic eruption.

The fascinating Naples Underground City is a labyrinth of tunnels and subterranean rooms which in some cases date back thousands of years. The tunnels were originally excavated by the ancient Greeks as a water storage system, and you can still see reservoirs holding water. In the twentieth century they were used as bomb shelters during WW2.

Explore the beautiful Amalfi Coast where pastel-hued villages lie terraced into the hillsides and spectacular roads hug the cliffs and coastline. From late Spring to Autumn the vivid colours of bougainvillea and an intense fragrance of lemon contribute to the undoubted charms and make the Amalfi Coast unmissable. The journey brings us first to Praiano and then to the town of Amalfi itself. Our route then heads into the mountains and to the pretty town of Ravello, perhaps the Amalfi Coast’s most peaceful and charming resort. Greta Garbo, Gore Vidal and D.H. Lawrence have all passed through here and for many Ravello is the jewel in the Amalfi Coast crown.

The beautiful island of Capri is reached by hydrofoil from Sorrento. Unlike the other islands in the Bay, Capri is comprised of limestone and used to be joined to the mainland but over many thousands of years the link was eroded by the sea. Tourism is the mainstay of the economy now, but there is also agriculture with vineyards, olive groves and citrus fruits. Local minibus transportation allows you to explore the island, including the world-famous sea stacks and natural arch by its impressive cliffs. You can also visit the Villa Jovis which once belonged to the Emperor Tiberias and can indulge in the dolce vita in the elegant cafes of Marina Grande.

Lemons arrived in Campania from the Middle East many centuries ago. Even today, some of the farms have been with the same family for hundreds of years. The tour commences in the orchards where you learn about the cultivation and harvesting process, much of it still done in the time-honoured way by hand. You continue to see the production process which involves selecting and processing the lemons. You also learn about the processes used to create Italy’s famous limoncello liqueur.

Visit a Buffalo Mozzarella Farm to see how this traditional Italian cheese is made. The region of Campania, lying to the south of Naples, is the heartland of mozzarella making and the route down to Paestum is known as the Mozzarella Road. The name mozzarella comes from the Italian verb mozzare, which means to cut off, and relates to the method by which mozzarella is made by hand. True buffalo mozzarella has a very thin skin, a delicate flavour, and a soft centre, while the buffalo that are used to make mozzarella are an ancient breed of water buffalo, originally coming from India in the 12th century. As well as learning about the production process, you also have the experience of eating fresh mozzarella di buffala right at the source and where you can see the animals that produced the milk used. The taste of the cheese is extraordinary. You can also try fresh ricotta and sometimes gelato made with buffalo milk.

At Pozzuoli you see the Temple of Serapis which was partially submerged after construction. This was originally attributed to changes in sea level but was it was later determined that the geological forces at play in the Campi Flegrei super-volcano caused the ground to move slowly up and down with the ebb and flow of magma chambers deep within the earth, a process known as bradyseism. The roughened area in the middle of each column shows the effect of marine action while the dividing line and the smooth area at the bottom of each column shows how far it was buried in sediment, before being uplifted again.

Try your hand at Italian cuisine at a pizza-making workshop where you can make this most famous Italian meal. The workshop takes place at a restaurant in Sorrento and once you have fired your pizza in the traditional wood oven, it will be yours to eat!

Gragnano is known as Italy’s most famous pasta town and we visit a local artisanal pasta factory to see what makes their pasta so special and what distinguishes it from the industrial product found in most UK supermarkets.

Visit the Frantoio Gargiulo olive oil mill. You can explore the beautiful gardens and mill before you have a talk about the workings of the mill and the history of the family farm. After the tour you have the chance to taste the different pressings.