Destinations · Campania
Sorrento the terrace on the bay
A town suspended on tuff cliffs, between citrus groves and the sea: for centuries the gateway to the Sorrento Peninsula and to Capri.
From the sirens to Torquato Tasso
Tradition links the name Surrentum to the sirens of the Ulysses myth. In Roman times the coast filled with patrician villas overlooking the sea: the remains of the villa of Pollius Felix can still be seen at the Bagni della Regina Giovanna.
In the Middle Ages Sorrento was an independent duchy; in 1558 it suffered a terrible sack by Turkish pirates, and from then on the coast filled with watchtowers. Torquato Tasso, the poet of Jerusalem Delivered, was born here in 1544: the main square bears his name.
Lemons, wood and songs
The Sorrento lemon has PGI status, and limoncello was born here. The workshops in the centre keep alive the art of tarsia, wood inlay that composes designs with woods of different colours.
In 1902 the De Curtis brothers wrote “Torna a Surriento”, one of the most widely sung Neapolitan songs in the world. Ferries and hydrofoils leave Marina Piccola for Capri, Naples and the Amalfi Coast.
Not to be missed in Sorrento
Piazza Tasso
The heart of the town, above the gorge that runs down to the sea.
Vallone dei Mulini
An old mill in a green gorge, a stone’s throw from the square.
Marina Grande
The fishermen’s village with its colourful boats.
Cloister of San Francesco
Fourteenth-century arches and summer concerts.
Villa Comunale
The viewpoint over the bay and Vesuvius.
Bagni della Regina Giovanna
A natural pool among the remains of a Roman villa.
Before you go
Along the coast, across the Sorrento Peninsula.
Or as a base for exploring the Amalfi Coast and Capri.
Lively in summer; in spring it smells of orange blossom.
Positano is about forty minutes away.
In high season the road to Sorrento is busy: setting off early makes all the difference. On the Amalfi Coast tour, Sorrento is the last stop, with a free hour in the old town.
Approximate times, without traffic.
Transfers to Sorrento from Naples airport, port or station.
Tolls and parking are always included. Carlo checks availability and replies within 24 hours.
