News Classics Trip to the Bay of Naples 02.11.2026

At the start of half term, our Year 10 to Upper Sixth Classics students set off on a Classical study trip to the Bay of Naples. The trip involved visits to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Paestum and the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. This trip promised to give the GCSE Classical Civilisation students first-hand experience of many of the artefacts and buildings they have studied. However, the experience went well beyond the syllabus, offering wonderful insights into the culture of 1st century BC Roman life and indeed Greek culture to all of the students involved.

After driving through Sorrento’s lemon groves and climbing the spectacular coastal road out of town, they spent their first day in Pompeii. The city never fails to amaze: the experience of walking through a place frozen in time is unnerving. It was all the more poignant as they began their visit in the Great Palaestra with an exhibition of plaster casts, bringing them face-to-face with those who perished in the eruption. They were able to appreciate many aspects of life in a Roman town – including the well appointed amphitheatre where they considered the fate of gladiators and beasts; they sat on the steeply raked seats in the theatre while Bea, Year 11, gave an impressive demonstration of its acoustics, and they then wandered through the remarkably well preserved streets. The first house they visited was the intriguing ‘House of Octavius Quartio’ with its extensive garden and frescos of Narcissus alongside Pyramus and Thisbe. They also explored the ‘House of Menander’, which offered a glimpse into the opulent world of Pompeii’s elite.  A highlight was the ‘Villa of the Mysteries’, where the breath taking room of the mysteries — perhaps depicting initiation rites into a Dionysiac cult — presents a striking contrast to the art in the rest of the city.  They left after a full day but feeling that there was a lot more to explore.

The next day threatened storms and so brought a change of itinerary and a visit to the ‘Villa Regina’ at Boscoreale. This villa had functioned both as a home and as a working farm and so was a fascinating complement to the structures they had seen in Pompeii. After this informative visit, they moved on to Herculaneum. Entering via the overhead walkway gave an impressive view of the grid-like streets below—alongside the haunting sight of the boatsheds, where more than 300 people gathered in a tragic attempt to escape by sea. Because the eruption affected Herculaneum in a different manner to Pompeii, organic matter like wood was carbonised and preserved rather than destroyed. A prime example is the ‘House of the Wooden Partition’, where an elegant wooden screen allowed the paterfamilias to close off his tablinum from visiting clients in the atrium. Throughout the house, our Year 11 Classical Civilisation students stepped up as exceptionally knowledgeable guides. 

The third day took them further south to the ancient Greek settlement of Paestum. Famous for its three magnificent Doric temples dedicated to Hera and Athena (dating from roughly 550 to 450 BC), the site was bathed in sunlight as they explored the ruins. They also spent time at the site museum admiring its famous painted tombs, most notably the enigmatic Tomb of the Diver—a rare and stunning example of Greek wall painting.

The final day found them in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. This museum is a treasure trove of artefacts excavated in the Bay of Naples area. They spent some time examining such varied items as bronze fittings from garden fountains, lamp holders, braziers and numerous frescoes. They enjoyed examining some familiar images – such as a fresco of the riot in the amphitheatre at Pompeii and one of the baker Terentius Neo and his wife.    

It was an exceptionally rewarding trip, made all the more memorable by the outstanding engagement and exemplary behaviour of all the students throughout.