— Stop 1 —

USA

Today, I’d like to share with you a great experience I had while traveling to Italy through a non-profit organization called GEEO. GEEO helps educators travel abroad so that they can learn more about different cultures to share with their students. I was joined on my trip by educators and retired teachers from all around the United States.

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Europe

We traveled across the Atlantic Ocean from North America to Europe. Europe and Asia share a long land border to the east, but Europe is conventionally understood as a separate continent—one of seven on Earth. The ancient Greeks are the ones who created the concept of continents as we think of them today.

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Italy

One of the most fascinating places in Europe is Italy, a country with a long and influential history. Around 60 million people live in Italy, making it one of the largest countries in Europe. Italy is famous for its history, art, culture, and cuisine. How many of you like Italian food? How many of you have heard of the Mona Lisa—it was painted in Italy! How many of you have heard of the Roman Empire? Italy has had a profound impact on world history and Western culture.

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Campania

Italy is divided into 20 regions, similar to how the U.S. is made up of 50 different states. You might recognize the names of some of the regions, like Tuscany and Sicily. Most of my trip took place in Campania, which is the second most populous region in Italy with over five million people. The capital of Campania is the city of Naples (Napoli in Italian), which was my first stop.

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Naples

Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with a history stretching back over 2,500 years. It was founded by the ancient Greeks and later became a major part of the Roman Empire. Today, it is Italy’s third-largest city and is known for its vibrant street life, beautiful coastal views, and, of course, being the birthplace of pizza! (Did you try pizza in Naples? If so, was it different from your local pizza? Did you try any unusual flavors or combinations?) While in Naples, I visited some incredible landmarks that showcase the city’s rich history and artistic heritage.

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Duomo di Napoli

This is the Duomo di Napoli. Duomo is the Italian word for cathedral. The Naples Cathedral is one of the most important religious sites in the city. It was built in the 13th century and is dedicated to Saint Januarius (San Gennaro), the patron saint of Naples. You might think the month of January is named after Saint Januarius, but actually, both names come from Janus, the ancient Roman god of beginnings and transitions. Janus was often depicted with two faces—one looking forward and one looking back—symbolizing his role in overseeing time and change. Since he looks both forward and backward, the Romans saw him as a perfect representation of the transition from one year to the next, and they named the first month of the year January after him. So many of our modern words and names come from the ancient Romans. Does anyone know the name of the language they spoke? Latin!

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Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli

(Naples National Archeological Museum)

One of the best museums in Naples is the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli. If you love history, this museum is a must-see! The museum houses one of the world’s greatest collections of Greco-Roman artifacts. Many of the items here were discovered in Pompeii and Herculaneum, two nearby ancient Roman cities that were buried by a volcanic eruption. We’ll talk more about that later.

Do you know what an archaeologist does? Archeologists study how people lived in the past by examining and analyzing remains and artifacts, like tools, coins, buildings, and even garbage—whatever they can find! The museum has a large collection of these artifacts including marble statues, mosaics, and even ancient Roman graffiti! One of the most famous exhibits is the “Farnese Hercules,” a massive statue of Hercules.

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Castel Nuovo

This is Castel Nuovo, which means “New Castle.” Despite its name, Castel Nuovo is actually over 700 years old! It is a medieval fortress built in the 13th century and has served as a royal palace, a military stronghold, and even a prison. One of the most striking features of the castle is its massive white marble triumphal arch.

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Castel dell’Ovo

This is another castle in Naples, Castel dell’Ovo, which sits right on the waterfront. This castle gets its unusual name—”Egg Castle”—from a medieval legend. According to the story, the famous Roman poet Virgil placed a magical egg inside the castle’s foundation, and as long as the egg remains unbroken, the castle and the city of Naples will be safe. The castle itself dates back to the 12th century and was built on the site of a much older Roman villa. Today, visitors can walk along its ancient walls and enjoy some of the best views of the Naples coastline.

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Sorrento

After exploring Naples, we traveled to Sorrento, a beautiful town south of Naples perched on the cliffs overlooking the Bay of Naples. Sorrento is famous for its sea views and old streets—and for its connection to lemons. The region produces some of the best lemons in Italy, which are used to make a drink called limoncello. As we walked through the town, we saw shops filled with lemon-scented soaps, candies, and, of course, bottles of limoncello. Sorrento has been a popular destination for travelers since ancient times, including Roman emperors and poets. Its scenic coastline has inspired writers and artists for centuries.

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Amalfi Coast

Leaving Sorrento behind, we traveled along the stunning Amalfi Coast, one of the most famous and scenic coastlines in the world. It is known for the beautiful small towns and steep cliffs. The drive offers dramatic views of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, colorful villages on the hillsides, and terraced lemon groves stretching down toward the sea. The region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s easy to see why! UNESCO World Heritage Sites are landmarks or areas designated by the UN for cultural or historical significance. The program conserves sites for future generations.

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Amalfi

The Amalfi Coast is named after the town of Amalfi, a beautiful and ancient town. A long time ago, before Italy was one country, some cities were very powerful and controlled trade across the sea. These cities were called maritime republics because they relied on ships and the ocean to prosper and become powerful. Amalfi was one of those powerful cities. Hundreds of years ago, it had a huge fleet of ships that sailed all over the Mediterranean, trading things like spices, silk, and precious metals. One of the most famous sites in Amalfi is St. Andrew’s Cathedral, which overlooks the main plaza.

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Ravello

From there, we headed uphill to Ravello, a town perched high above the coast. The town was originally founded in the 5th century as a place to take shelter from barbarian invasions. Due to its location up in the hills, Ravello has a great view of the coast. The town’s peaceful atmosphere made it a perfect place to pause and take in the beauty of the Amalfi Coast from above.

— Stop 14 —

The Path of the Gods

Next, we made our way to Bomerano di Agerola, where we set off on one of the most unforgettable walks of the trip: The Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei). This legendary trail follows the cliffs high above the Amalfi Coast, offering incredible views of the sea and coastline. At times, the path felt almost suspended in the sky, with the deep blue sea stretching endlessly below. It was easy to understand why this trail has such a mythical name—walking along it truly felt like stepping into another world.

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Montepertuso

Our hike took us through Montepertuso, a small village nestled in the cliffs. Montepertuso is known for its massive natural rock arch, which, according to legend, was formed when the Virgin Mary defeated the devil and pressed her finger into the rock, leaving the hole behind.

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Positano

From here, we continued downward until we reached Positano, one of the most iconic towns on the Amalfi Coast. Positano is famous for its steep, colorful houses tumbling and lovely beach. After a long hike, nothing felt better than relaxing by the water, enjoying a refreshing gelato, and taking in the scenery.

— Stop 17 —

Capri

Some of our group also took an excursion to the island of Capri. This island was briefly the capital of the Roman Empire when Emperor Tiberius decided to make it his home. One of the most famous sites in Capri is the Blue Grotto, a sea cave where the water glows an almost unbelievable shade of blue, an effect created by sunlight that enters the cavern through an underwater opening. It is said that the Emperor Tiberius used the grotto as a swimming pool, and evidence shows that the grotto was once decorated with statues of Roman sea gods.

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Pompeii

The final stop on our journey was Pompeii, one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Walking through this ancient Roman city felt like stepping back in time, as if the people who lived here had just vanished, leaving their homes, streets, and temples behind. But what happened to Pompeii?

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Mount Vesuvius and Vesuvius Caldera

Pompeii was destroyed in 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius, the huge volcano nearby, erupted with incredible force. The explosion sent clouds of hot ash, rocks, and gases racing down the mountain, burying the entire city in just a few hours. Unlike lava, which moves slowly, this ash was so fast that people didn’t have time to escape. Today, you can still see Vesuvius’ massive crater, called a caldera, which was formed by past eruptions. The volcano is still active, but scientists carefully monitor it for any signs of an imminent eruption.

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Pompeii’s Forum

One of the first places we visited was Pompeii’s Forum, the heart of the city and the center of political, religious, and social life. This large open space was where people gathered to trade goods, hear speeches, and discuss important matters. Surrounding the Forum were important buildings like temples, government offices, and markets.

Just before its destruction, it is thought that about 20,000 people lived in the city. When Mount Vesuvius erupted, the city was buried under 13 to 20 feet of ash, which preserved it in time. The excavated ruins of Pompeii today provide a glimpse of what life was like over 2000 years ago.

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Temple of Jupiter

At the north end of the Forum stood the Temple of Jupiter, dedicated to the most powerful Roman god. Jupiter was the god of thunder and the sky, and Romans believed he ruled over all the other gods. The temple once had a grand statue of Jupiter, but today, only ruins remain. From here, you could look up and see Mount Vesuvius in the distance—a reminder of the volcano that changed Pompeii forever.

The Romans adopted many of the myths of the Greeks, so Roman gods often have Greek counterparts. Does anyone know the Greek counterpart of the Roman god Jupiter? Zeus!

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Theatres

Pompeii had a large theatre where people gathered to watch plays, comedies, and musical performances. The theatre was built into a hillside, with rows of stone seats arranged in a semicircle so everyone could get a good view. The Romans loved entertainment, and seeing this ancient stage made me think about how thousands of people once sat here, laughing at comedies or gasping at dramatic performances. The theatre would have seated about 5,000 people in its time. The smaller circular theatre next to it is called the odeon. It would have seated about 1,500 people.

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Pompeii Amphitheatre

One of the most incredible places in Pompeii was its amphitheatre, the oldest surviving Roman amphitheatre in the world. This huge oval-shaped stadium could hold up to 20,000 spectators, who came to watch gladiator battles and wild animal fights. Imagine the roar of the crowd as gladiators fought for their lives, or the excitement as exotic animals from far-off lands were shown to the people of Pompeii. It was like the ancient version of a sports arena, where people came to cheer and be entertained. Sometimes events at the amphitheatre would last two or three days.

— Stop 24 —

Street View

This is one of the main intersections in Pompeii. Do you see the raised stones in the middle of the street? They are called stepping stones. Ancient Pompeii didn’t have underground pipes like we do today. When it rained, or when people threw out dirty water, the streets could get very wet and messy. The stepping stones helped people cross the street without getting their feet dirty—kind of like a crosswalk today!

Do you see the grooves in the road between the stones? These were made by the wheels of carts and chariots! Just like how cars leave tire marks on a road today, the wooden wheels of ancient carts slowly wore down the stone, leaving these tracks behind.