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Trips

Naples

Classics Trip to Naples

A t a student-unfriendly time in the early hours of Sunday, March 26th, the MTS Classicists assembled at Heathrow Terminal 5. Fortunately, everyone accounted for the clocks changing with the start of British Summer Time, and no one was left behind. Upon arriving in Naples, we were met with the first of many pizzas, after which we headed to the Archaeological Museum. The museum was certainly a highlight of the trip, with its many iconic Roman statues and mosaics including The Farnese Bull, The Farnese Hercules, and the Alexander Mosaic. On our first full day we visited Herculaneum.

Not only does it contain well-preserved architecture and artwork from 79AD, but the skeletons of those who hid in the boathouses provided a stark insight into the city’s final moments. We then undertook the arduous climb to the peak of Mount Vesuvius, where we were met with remarkable views of the volcano’s crater and the sprawling city of Naples below. On the next day, we visited the famous buried town of Pompeii – a much larger site than Herculaneum – which featured an impressive amphitheatre, baths, and many more villas. Following the trip to Pompeii, we visited the ancient Greek colony – and later

Roman town – of Paestum, which contained three Greek temples, a Roman amphitheatre, and the ruins of the ancient, abandoned town. On the final day of the trip, we explored the modern town of Sorrento, where we each had many more gelatos and pizzas. I greatly enjoyed this informative and memorable trip, not least because gelato and pizzas definitely taste better than those eaten here in the UK! I would like to thank Ms Drew for all her hard work in organising the trip, as well as Mr Harrison and the other teachers for giving up part of their Easter break, without whom the trip would not have been possible. Alec Meade (Divs)

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