Geography in Naples, Italy

Italy brings geography alive with the chance to see fumaroles in action in Campi Flegrei, dramatic coastal landforms, climb Vesuvius and see first hand the impacts of large numbers of tourists in Capri.

Geography is a subject that certainly benefits from being taught outside surrounded by examples of the topics in the syllabus - and where better to do this than in the warm sunshine of Southern Italy. When not studying, students will enjoy their time on the beach, at water parks, wandering the streets of Sorrento or making and eating delicious Italian food. A residential trip like this is perfect for making lasting memories and forging stronger friendships.

Depending on the topics you are teaching in geography, the trip can have more of a focus on particular themes such as plate tectonics or coasts, or have a broader content including Roman history and Italian culture alongside the geographical aspects.

Here is an idea of what to expect on a geography themed trip to Italy. This can be adjusted to fit your needs and interests, such as by including more visits to historical places.

A popular and highly recommended option is to add a trip to Rome at the beginning or end of the tour, by extending the tour by a day or two (or by removing some activities from the Naples area). This allows students to see the sights of Rome, including the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Catacombs and other historical and Roman sights. It is generally possible to arrange the outward or inward flights for your group to Rome in order to reduce travel time.

Day 1: Arrival in Naples
We'll start the trip with a visit to Solfatara, Campi Flegrei, where students will tour the lunar landscapes and steaming sulfurous waters in this active volcanic crater within the Phlegraean Fields.
Day 2: Volcanoes and Romans
No visit to Naples would be complete without a climb to the crater rim of the famous volcano overlooking it all - Vesuvius. Students can look for evidence of past eruptions and lava flows in the landscape, before heading down to a Roman town that was buried in a pyroclastic flow quite some years ago. In Herculaneum, students can either see remarkably well-preserved mosaics and buildings with a guide, or for a fun way to explore the compact site, students can divide into small groups and undertake a mapping challenge of the street layout.
Day 3: Capri
Coasts is a topic within physical geography that always captures students' attention, especially when they can see stacks, sea arches, caves and other marks of coastal erosion on a chartered boat ridel along the Amalfi Coast. Our destination will be the island of Capri, where students can study the impact of tourism by observation or conducting surveys, and also enjoy the opportunity to find interesting souvenirs of Italy.
Day 4: Ash and Water
It's huge, but well worth a visit - students will need to be prepared for Pompeii with sun hats and full water bottles. We will take in the highlights of this formerly buried Roman city, and when the sun gets too hot, head to the nearby Valle dell'Orso water park in the summer months to cool off and enjoy the slides. In cooler weather, or depending on your preference, we can enjoy a relaxing visit to Stufe Di Nerone thermal baths and spa instead! In the evening today students will learn all about making traditional Italian gelato at one of Italy's oldest ice cream shops.
Day 5: Amalfi Coast and Sorrento
We'll look at land use and/or agriculture today, with a tour of the Amalfi Coast to see the coastal towns hugging the rocky bays, and look at the urban development of Sorrento before enjoying time at the beach. It is also possible to arrange a visit to a local farm to taste olive oils and lemons, learn how mozzarella is made before enjoying a pizza making class. If we aren't making pizza, we'll finish at Inn Bufalito to enjoy an excellent final dinner at this restaurant specialising in mozzarella, before finding out which of your students can score the most strikes in bowling.
Day 6: Return
Transfer to airport by private coach, return flight to home country.
Extra activities can be added on travel days depending on flight timings, and the entire itinerary can be shortened, lengthened or customised to suit your preferences.

We can run trips to Italy with small groups or large groups, though most groups tend to have around 20 students. Some activities may require larger groups to divide into smaller groups.

We offer a free teacher place for every 10 students on your trip.

Depending on the nature of the disability we may need to plan alternative activities but we welcome all students on our trips - just let us know what your needs are.

Italy has a lot to offer school groups and there are many more activities and places to visit than we could fit into the typical itinerary. Should you have particular interests, or requirements for conducting fieldwork in a particular area, do let us know as we can customise your trip completely.