Sorrento is located in a key place, overlooking the Gulf of Naples and incredible viewpoints to observe the city and Mount Vesuvius.
The city is easily reached from Naples and Pompeii. 46 km from the city of Naples, from where the ferries leave for Naples, Amalfi, Positano, Capri and Ischia. The narrow road from Sorrento to Amalfi meanders along the highest cliffs in the Mediterranean, leaving behind the best views one can imagine.
Its historic center extends harmoniously on a tuff terrace 47 meters above sea level, it is rich in exuberant vegetation and characterized by cliffs.
The historic center of the city still shows the orthogonal layout of the streets of Roman origin, while towards the hill, Sorrento is surrounded by 16th century walls. In this area are the Duomo, rebuilt in the 15th century, with a neo-Gothic façade, and the church of San Francisco de Asís, with frescoes from the 14th century.
The founding of Sorrento is always attributed to the ancient Greeks, but it had the Italic peoples as its first permanent inhabitants, first the Etruscans and later an important influence from the Oscans.
MONUMENTS AND PLACES OF INTEREST
- Cattedrale dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo: 10th century church, cathedral of the Archdiocese of Sorrento-Castellammare di Stabia and parish seat. Its main interest is the interior of the temple, which is impressive.
- Basilica di Sant’Antonino: monumental basilica from the 11th century and inside which are kept the remains of the patron saint of the city, Sant’Antonino.
- Chiesa dei santi Felice e Baccolo: known as the Church of the Rosary, it has been the city’s cathedral for several centuries.
- Chiesa di San Paolo: church in the historic center. Attached to it is the homonymous Benedictine monastery, transformed into a school.
- Santuario della Madonna del Carmine: church built in the 3rd century and rebuilt in the 16th. Convent of Santa Maria della Sapienza: it is famous for having given it. One of the reasons why it is famous is for having given its name to sapienze, a sweet created by the Clarisas nuns, typical of the Christmas season, similar to susamielli, which are part of the Neapolitan culinary tradition.
- Villa Silvana: elegant Art Nouveau house from the beginning of the 20th century, with a magnificent terrace from which you can see the gulf. The villa is surrounded by exotic vegetation (palms, cycas, camellias, rose banksiae, yucca, agave, aloe and succulents). The descent to the sea is possible through a long series of steps, interspersed with panoramic terraces surrounded by lemon trees, pines, vines and figs.
- Villa Fiorentino: bequeathed to the city of Sorrento by the Fiorentino-Cuomo couple. Construction was completed in 1936 and stretches from the old walls to Corso Italia. It is used for exhibitions, concerts and other public events, while the garden is used as a children’s playground.
- Piazza Lauro: one of the neuralgic points of the city. A wide and modern square from which the main pedestrian thoroughfare of Sorrento, Corso Italia, starts.
- Corso Italia is a street with a lot of atmosphere, full of shops, restaurants and cafes.
- Piazza Tasso: it is the main square of Sorrento and takes its name from the famous writer Torquato Tasso, closely linked to this beautiful city in Campania. The square is presided over by the sculpture of San Antonino Abate, patron saint of the city. A terrace on one of its sides allows a wonderful view of the Mediterranean. From here you can see a narrow road that leads to Marina Piccola.
- Via San Cesareo: this street is dominated by the yellow color of lemons. Numerous lemon liqueur laboratories, hence the famous limoncello.
- Marina Grande: it is the old fishing port of the city. It still preserves the colorful houses and the boats and the nets on the shore. Together with its small beach, it is the perfect place to relax for a while, as well as to eat or sunbathe.
- Marina Piccola is the tourist port of Sorrento, from where the boats and ferries that connect the city with Naples, the Amalfi coast or the island of Capri depart and arrive. From the Villa Comunale, an elevator takes you to Marina Piccola, which also has a small and characteristic beach.
- Museo Correale: contains the collections of Greek and Roman finds and Neapolitan porcelain from the Capodimonte farmhouse, with an area of paintings from the 17th – 19th centuries. From its gardens you can enjoy a magnificent view over the gulf.
- Vallone dei Mulini is a hidden valley off the coast of Sorrento, in a mysterious enclave abandoned at the end of the 40s, whose historic buildings have been swallowed by nature creating a spectacular scene similar to a jungle; among them, a mill built in the 10th century.
HOW TO GET TO SORRENTO
The closest airport to Sorrento is Capodichino, in Naples. It is located about 50 kilometers. From there you can take the buses of the Curreri company for about 8 euros each way. From the city center, from the Central Station of Naples, it can be reached with the Circumvesuviana train service, the Napoli – Sorrento line, for 4 euros each way.
Of course the taxi or the car would be the other two options. The latter would give freedom to move along the entire coast through the road that connects the Amalfi Coast.
WHERE TO SLEEP IN SORRENTO
The city of Sorrento offers numerous accommodations with good quality/price. In high season it is a highly demanded destination, so prices rise a lot and can become very high. If you are going to spend a few days in the city, it is 100% recommendable to stay in Sorrento and enjoy the nightlife it offers.