A few words about Sorrento

Sorrento is a picturesque small town overlooking the dazzling emerald Bay of Naples. Its dramatic tuff cliffs offer a beautiful panorama of the bay, the city of Naples and Vesuvius. With a population of about 16,000, it has nearly as many beds in the numerous accommodation facilities, from luxury hotels and residences to villas, farms, bed & breakfast places and campings, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region of Campania. It can be reached easily from Naples by ferry or hydrofoil, as well as by road and rail (the Circumvesuviana line).

Sorrento's most prominent citizen was poet Torquato Tasso. Many a celebrity, however, fell in love with this fascinating town: poets and writers such as Goethe, Stendhal, Lamartine, Keats, Byron, Ibsen, Scott and Dickens, musicians such as Wagner, Liszt, Rossini and Mendelssohn, and singers such as Caruso found inspiration in this ancient and magical place, probably called after the mythical sirens who enchanted sailors with their songs.

In the historical center within the ancient town walls dimly lit small streets wind between architectural and cultural monuments.

The basilica is dedicated to Sorrento's patron saint, St. Antonio, whose grave is in the crypt. Legend attributes to him a number of miracles, including the saving of a child swallowed by a whale. First built in the 11th century, the basilica was last reconstructed in the 19th century, but it still holds 17th-century paintings, the remnants of a splendid majolica floor and a valuable 17th-century Christmas crib in which the sculptures are dressed in elaborate clothes made of precious fabrics and lace.

Of all arts and crafts, Sorrento is best known for its wood marquetry: elaborate mosaics of small pieces of wood most often used to decorate furniture. A few fine examples can be seen in the Cathedral of Sorrento. Built in the 15th century, it is recognized by its impressive bell tower, and contains valuable paintings by representatives of the 18th-century Neapolitan School.

A special museum is dedicated to the traditional art of wood intarsia, housed in an 18th-century palace with frescoed vaults. The museum illustrates the technical aspects of marquetry, and displays a collection of furniture and inlaid objects.

Sedil Dominova is an interesting monument. It is the place where the nobles would meet to discuss political and administrative issues. The Sedil consists of an arched loggia closed by balustrades, with a fine majolica-decorated dome and 17th-century frescoes, and an inner lounge. It is the only preserved monument of its kind in the whole of Campania.

The St. Francis Convent contains a 16th-century Baroque church with a massive wooden door on which the saint's crucifixion is depicted, and with rich stucco decoration. The cloister was founded in the 7th century, and is still inhabited by Franciscan friars.

Correale Museum is a splendid former residence of a wealthy aristocratic family. It was the will of its last descendants, the brothers Alfredo and Pompeo Correale, that the residence be turned into a museum, and they left behind a great collection of European and Chinese porcelain, unique pieces of furniture, paintings and decorative art items.

Sorrento's most famous local product is the Limoncello, a lemon-flavoured liqueur. It is made by soaking lemon rind in alcohol for several days and then adding sugar and water. Limoncello is served chilled in small ceramic glasses. Another local specialty is the buffalo mozzarella.

Food is taken seriously in Sorrento. The sea and the fertile countryside provide the staples of the local cuisine: fish & seafood, fresh vegetables and olive oil. Traditional dishes include fried anchovies, octopus salad, peppered mussels, beef with tomato sauce, breaded mozzarella, potato dumplings and, of course, the omnipresent pasta: pasta puttanesca, spaghetti with clams, and lasagna.

Sorrento is an excellent starting point for excursions to Mount Vesuvius, Pompei, Capri, Ischia and Amalfi.