Trips to the Bay of Naples for Cultural Studies Students

Observe the destructive impact of the volcanic eruption of Vesuvius in 79AD which buried, and consequently preserved these famous towns. Take in the original streets, houses, preserved human casts, and works of art on display. Our activity sheets provide resources for a honey pot analysis and the opportunity to measure the impact of tourism on the site. We recommend a 2-hour guided tour option.

This stunning rocky coastline features the Arco Naturale and Faraglione landforms, shaped over many years by the erosive power of the sea. Resource pack activities include photograph and diagram annotation, field sketching and sequencing. The coastline is accessed via a short ferry ride. A laser boat ride around the island is also available upon arrival to see the coastline formations, and a funicular railway can be taken for a five minute journey up to Capri town. Groups can also visit Anacapri and ride the cable car of Monte Solaro. An English-speaking local guide can accompany you on this day, if you don’t have a Field Studies Guide.

Known by the Greeks and Romans as the fiery birthplace of myth and legend (the entrance to Hades or Hell was said to be here), the Bay of Pozzuoli tucked between Naples and the Tyrrhenian Sea is a giant caldera 12-15km across. Within this caldera is a moonscape of smaller eruptions and there is concern that this could be the site of a super volcano.

Visit the Temple of Serapis in Pozzuoli which Charles Babage first used to explain the phenomenon of Bradyseism, followed by a walk around Pozzuoli itself, racked by earthquakes in the 1980s and now substantially rebuilt. Students will be able to see how the port has had to be extended outwards because of uplift, and how the old harbour is now virtually abandoned.

There is an opportunity to climb Monte Nuovo, formed in a single week or walk around Lake Avernus - a volcanic crater lake. Groups may also have chance to visit the Greek ruins at Bala, The Amphitheatre, Naples Underground Museum or the National Museum.

On the southern side of the Sorrento peninsula lies the famous Amalfi Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where a ribbon of road clings tightly to steep, rugged cliffs interspersed with picturesque towns. For geography groups there is the opportunity to study coastal landforms and tourism impact. A boat tour of this beautiful coastline is also available.

A fantastic educational journey to discover this Karst cave system which has considerable archaeological value. With your guide, groups will enter the caves on a boat as the entrance is flooded by the waters of the Negro River. Once you enter into the bowels of caves, you will spend 90 minutes exploring inside, including discovering how groups of stalactites and stalagmites are modelled in mysterious shapes. Upon leaving, students will visit the accompanying multi-media museum highlighting the biodiversity of the local environments. This is an ideal addition to Amalfi coast drive.

Take your students on a guided walking tour of this olive and lemon mill and mozzarella farm in Sorrento. Your group will enjoy a cheese-making demonstration, plus a complimentary pizza and soft drink.

There is an entire underground city below Naples - a series of ancient aqueducts that were eventually shut down and used as a bomb shelter during World War II. You can go down a square flight of steps put in place by Mussolini leading down 40m into an actual air raid shelter. The museum is in a huge underground sandstone quarry and contains incredible artefacts and objects found during more than 50 years of exploring the labyrinth beneath Naples.

During this fascinating visit, your students will learn about the ancient art of making pasta, which has a very long tradition in Gragnano. The location of this small town, between the sea and the mountains, has provided the ideal climate for producing and drying pasta for over 500 years. Here, your students can see the production process during a 30 minute guided tour of the factory before receiving a small memento of their visit.

Visit the site of three of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world. This visit provides a great opportunity to explore the development of Doric architecture, a Roman town and a museum with one of the earliest examples of Greek panel painting.

An excellent visit with the supposed villa of the family of Poppaea, the second wife of Nero.

The well-preserved amphitheatre here is on a smaller scale than the Colosseum in Rome, but better demonstrates the human aspect of the arena.