QEGS Italy Trip 2025

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36 students and 4 members of staff thoroughly enjoyed the 2025 Geography trip to Southern Italy. Following an overnight coach journey from Horncastle to Gatwick and an early morning flight we arrived in Sicily tired but keen to learn about the local landscape and culture. First stop was the beautiful hill-top town of Taormina and its breath-taking amphitheatre that dates back to the time of Ancient Greece.

  

We then drove south to stop at Alcantara Gorge and learnt about the creation of the 50m deep gorge through basaltic rock. Our walk took us through orchards of orange and lemon trees where, with the guide’s permission and following Mrs Bargh’s lead, we picked and ate some of the glorious fruit.

 

Day two began with a truly remarkable sight – Mt Etna erupting lava into the early morning sky. It was clearly visible to us from our hotel in the shadow of the volcano, but thankfully there was no danger to us.

We took the early morning ferry from Milazzo to the Island of Vulcano and began our walk from the harbour to the crater. Our local tour guide explained to us that the Ancient Romans had named the island after Vulcan the God of Fire – and it is from this ‘mountain that gives fire’ that all other ‘volcanoes’ are named. Undeterred by the unpleasant smell of sulphur and the steep terrain, all members of the group made it to the summit with stunning  views directly down into the crater and, in the other direction, out across the Aeolian Sea and to the other active volcanoes in the local area (including Mt Stomboli that was gently erupting as we watched).

 

Day 3 began with a trip to the beach to see the sun rise and a chance to join Mr Randman on a run (pleasingly nice and flat) along to a nearby harbour. Then began the epic journey to the top of Mt Etna - which had, thankfully, stopped erupting! The coach was able to take us as far as base camp. From there we took a cable car (wonderful views) and a 4X4 jeep (through deep snow), before we had to get out and walk. Breathless (partly though the stunning views – and partly due to the lack of oxygen!) we followed our guide up the South-East crater of Mt Etna marvelling at the fact that we were approaching the top of the most active volcano in Europe. In some areas the ground was noticeably warm to touch (due to the hot magma beneath our feet!) causing the snow to melt.

 

Following a relaxing (only kidding!) journey on an overnight ferry from Palermo, Sicily to Naples, we made our way to our third volcano of the trip – Mt Vesuvius. This huge mountain dominates the skyline of the local area and is infamous for the destruction of Pompeii in AD79. Our local guides took us through the Valley of the Inferno and explained to us different types of eruptions and the impacts they have. In particular, we were interested to hold ‘volcanic bombs’ thrown out by the 1944 eruption of Mt Vesuvius – that are significantly more dense than the nearby rock formed by cooling lava.

 

Next was the beautiful up-market tourist town of Sorrento. Students were finally given some free time to explore the town – they were pleased to hear that there were no more volcanoes left to climb!

 

In Sorrento we were also given a chance to make our own ice cream (we learnt that sorbet is made with fruit – always local and in season -  whereas gelato is made with milk and ingredients such as chocolate or nuts). Either way, the sorbet and the gelato were both fantastic to taste – though for many the highlight of the visit was the chance to look cool whilst wearing a hair net………

 

The final morning of our time in Italy was spent in Pompeii. We learnt about the horrific eruption of Mt Vesuvius in AD 79 (and how it followed an earthquake in AD 62) and how the site was discovered in the 16^th century and excavated from the 18^th century onwards. Our guide took us through the remains of the town (which was surprisingly big – holding up to 20000 residents at its peak – and seemingly that many tourists when we were there!) – showing us grand houses, public buildings, shops and some institutions we shouldn’t discuss on a school website…….

 

 

All in all it was an incredible trip that has left us all with memories that will last forever.

 

 

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