My favorite trip with the school was Napoli. It was WILD. We literally hiked to a volcano and I cannot imagine a cooler thing on Earth. Being able to explore the city with the whole program was organized chaos but always ends up working out.- Brett, Spring 2018

Take a trip down south to a Naples, the third largest city in Italy, and the capital of the region of Campania. Naples is actually one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban areas in the world- first settled by the Greeks, it then became part of the Roman republic. Because of its rich and complicated history,  it’s been known as a microcosm of European history, by witnessing several cultures come, rule, and fade out, all the while leaving traces of their art, architecture and various customs in their wake.

Naples is an intense experience, unlike any other. The sounds, smells and tastes of the city draw you in, and the locals make up the experience. Neapolitans are expressive, passionate, and proud of their city.  Naples is southern Italy and here, students can see various differences in the region- daily customs, dialect, food- it is all completely different than central Italy and witnessing it firsthand is something that many students have thoroughly enjoyed.

Upon arrival to Naples, students are taken to a restaurant in Borgo Marinari, a small port with various restaurants nestled next to one another, where they dine next to the bobbing boats and a view of the city in the distance. The menu is always fresh and raved about- students love the mozzarella di bufala, and eggplant parmigiano, followed by homemade napolitana pastry.

After lunch students are taken to the historical center, where they will visit St.Clares monastery, stepping away from the sounds of the city to a quiet refuge. The courtyard is full of lemon trees and internal paths that wind through pillars painted with majolica tiles in blues, greens and yellows. The monastery’s museum and history are an integral part of Naples itself, as students will learn.

Students will also visit Capella San Severo, where the breathtaking Veiled Christ sculpture is laid out. Afterwards students make their way to see various other churches, such as San Domenico known for its Gothic and Baroque architecture and treasure trove inside. On the way out, students find themselves on the famous SpaccaNapoli, a street full of authentic Napolitan pizzerias, and from there, San Gregorio Armeno, famous for its shops full of figurines, political and religious.

On day 2, students will be on a full day excursion, first visiting Herculaneum and walking through its ruins. Herculaneum was buried under the explosion of Mount Vesuvius and is a marvel as the cloud of ash that covered the city practically preserved it completely. After a break for lunch, students will visit the scene of the crime itself, and head directly to Mount Vesuvius, best known for its eruption in AD 79 that led to the burying and destruction of the Roman cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis and Stabiae, as well as several other settlements. Here they will take a short hike to the crater and see hear from a volcanologist about the history of the great explosion.

The last day in Naples, students will have the chance to visit the archeological museum, one of the most important museums in Italy with Greek, Roman and Renaissance works. Artifacts from Herculaneum and Pompeii are found here, among various other collections.

Check out a video made by one of our very own here!