School trips to Sicily

Why visit Sicily?

Explore a volcanic landscape

The eastern coast of the island is dominated by Mt. Etna, the largest of the three active volcanoes in Italy. Mt. Etna still blankets the island periodically in black ash and is designated a Decade Volcano due to its recent activity and the population living nearby.

Your students may wonder why people would risk living in the shadow of such a dangerous volcano, but they’ll soon discover how the fertile volcanic soil allows for intensive agricultural production and some of the best produce in Italy.

Mt. Etna isn’t the only volcano that your students can visit on their school trip to Sicily. Just lying off the north coast of Sicily are the Aeolian Islands – a volcanic arc that includes the island of Stromboli.

Stromboli is home to the eponymous volcano, which has been in a continuous state of eruption for thousands of years. Its distinctive pattern of eruption has been termed ‘Strombolian eruption’ – where better to learn about this than Stromboli itself?

Discover a fascinating history

Over the centuries, Sicily has been conquered by the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Romans and many, many more. It formed an important part of Magna Graecia, the coastal areas of southern Italy colonised by Ancient Greek settlers.

If your group are interested in learning more about the history of the island, we can highly recommend a visit to the city of Syracuse. The city is almost 3,000 years old and is notable for its Greek and Roman amphitheatres and architecture.

A powerful Ancient Greek city-state allied with Sparta and Corinth, Syracuse was at one time one of the major powers in the Mediterranean. Later, it was briefly the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Your students will love strolling along the city’s beautiful streets, discovering incredible history around almost every corner.

Experience a unique culture

Thanks to its complex history of invasions and conquests, Sicily is now a fascinating melting pot whose culture, while still identifiable as ‘Italian’, is also quite unique.

When you’re not exploring the island’s geography or history, make sure you take some time to soak up its vibrant culture, from the incredible food to the spectacular architecture and beautiful art.

And if you’re lucky, your school trip to Sicily may coincide with one of the island’s many festivals, which are always colourful and an unforgettable cultural experience.