Boys experienced both the awe-inspiring power of nature and the man-made glories of Ancient Rome during a Geography trip to Italy.
Highlights included a walk up Mount Vesuvius – mainland Europe’s only active volcano – and a day in Rome, taking in the Forum and the Colosseum. The four-day visit also included plenty of opportunity for the boys to sample Italian cuisine in the shape of giant ice-creams and equally large helpings of pizza and pasta!
Geography teacher Natasha Cottingham said: “Overall it was a very enjoyable experience for all the boys involved. The weather was fabulous all week, which allowed us to fully appreciate the beauty of the volcanic landscape.”
The trip began with a boat ride to the scenic island of Capri, where many of the rich and famous own holiday homes. (“Unfortunately, we didn’t meet George Clooney,” said Miss Cottingham.) On their walk around the island, the boys had a close-up view of an old sea arch which has risen more than 30m because of tectonic uplift and now stands suspended high above the sea.
The following morning brought an early start as the group set off up Vesuvius before the sun became too hot. The first group of the day to reach the upper slopes, the QE party had the volcano to themselves for a little while. “Our guide showed us the sulphur gas emissions and demonstrated how the volcano is becoming more active,” said Miss Cottingham.
After walking back down, the boys tucked into pizza before heading into Pompeii, where they were given free time to explore. The evening was spent engaging in an entirely modern pursuit – ten-pin bowling.
The third day brought a coach ride to the Temple of Serapis in Pozzuoli and the chance to scramble through the caves beneath nearby Naples – another highlight for many of the boys, Miss Cottingham reports. “Our guide told us about the history of the caves, which were once an ancient Roman aquifer before becoming bomb shelters during World War II. The boys were able to appreciate the utter darkness and how narrow some of the tunnels were.”
They then had free time in the Naples Archaeological Museum, which holds many artefacts from Vesuvius’s past eruptions.
A coach ride on the final day took the group to Rome, where they enjoyed seeing the Forum and walking round the Colosseum before catching their flight home.