On Friday 4th April 2025, 44 excited Geographers and four staff members left for Luton to catch an early morning flight to Naples, Italy! We got incredibly lucky with the weather as clear blue skies and sunshine shone over Italy and we could see Mount Vesuvius as we flew in. Once we found our coach driver, we made our journey to Sorrento. Here we had our first Italian lunch (and gelato, of course!), saw many a lemon and orange tree and explored the beautiful marina. Then our coach driver collected us before we headed to the hotel to settle into our rooms before dinner.
The next morning, we were up for breakfast before departing the hotel to start our day of excursions. First up was Pompeii, the world-famous Roman city frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Students were fascinated by the preserved streets, homes and even casts of people, giving real insight into life – and sudden death – in the Roman Empire. From there, we travelled up the slopes of Mount Vesuvius itself. The hike to the summit was steep but worth it, as we were rewarded with breath-taking views across the Bay of Naples and the looming reminder of the volcano’s explosive past.
On Day 3, the adventure continued as we took the ferry from Sorrento to the stunning island of Capri. Students (and teachers!) were amazed by the crystal-clear waters and dramatic limestone cliffs. We then boarded a boat for a scenic trip around the island, sailing beneath soaring rock arches, past caves and into hidden coves. It was a perfect day to learn about coastal processes, erosion and the formation of landforms like sea stacks and arches – all while basking in Italian sunshine!
Our final day saw us exploring Meta di Sorrento, a beautiful beach town where students enjoyed some well-deserved downtime (and gelato, of course!) before visiting Herculaneum in the afternoon. This lesser-known archaeological site, also destroyed by Vesuvius, impressed many with its remarkably well-preserved buildings, mosaics and even wooden structures. It gave a powerful contrast to Pompeii and deepened our understanding of the volcano’s impact.
Ultimately, the EBS geographers from our KS4 and KS5 cohort had a fantastic trip and loved seeing the amazing geographical landscapes and cultural heritage the Bay of Naples has to offer. The trip truly brought to life key topics such as tectonic hazards, coastal processes, and tourism impacts in real-world settings. A huge thank you to Ms Brown, Mr Giffen and Mr Messios for leading such a memorable international Geography residential. Italy, you were bellissima! Geographers, keep your eyes peeled for next year’s residential!
