Sorrento

Celebrated throughout the World, The Sorrentine Peninsula, with its views and scents, has made its mark on illustrious visitors ever since the 17th century. Sorrento used to be one of the destinations of the Grand Tour, which would bring young noblemen, intellectuals and artists from Northern Europe to Italy. Previously, the enchanting landscape had conquered the Romans and today, as the Italian singer Lucio Dalla recalls in Caruso (the song he composed in Sorrento to commemorate the town’s world famous tenor), this is still the place where the sea glistens and the wind blows fiercely. Beaches, Coves, breathtaking views and much more.
The small town of Sorrento is wonderfully located over white steep cliffs and offers a fantastic view over the Bay of Naples. Sorrento lies on a tufa terrace and is enclosed by impressive rocks of the limestone mountains. For 2000 years visitors from all over the world have been attracted to Sorrento for its breathtaking sunsets and the fragrances of orange and lemon gardens. Sorrento is truly spectacular, especially if you come by boat. From the sea, you can appreciate the rugged beauty of the coast line with its towering cliffs in volcanic tuff. Whoever chooses to make Sorrento their base for a seaside holiday (and you can do so for most of the year thanks to the mild climate) can be sure to find beautiful landscapes and first-rate artistic and gastronomic attractions, as well as fine hotels, charming guest houses and fully equipped camp sites. If you are keen on immersing yourself in nature, archeology and legend, the Baths of Queen Joan are the place for you, with a natural rock arch over a pool of seawater.

The waterside ruins are thought to be those of the villa of Vedius Pollio, a rich Roman Aristocrat, but legend says that it was here that Joan, queen of Anjou, kept trysts with her lovers. The coast roas beyond Sorrento winds through citrus and olive groves, with scintillating views.
Small but delightful, the Correale di Terranova Museum occupies an 18th century villa, set in a citrus grove, overlooking the sea. Inside you can find a variety of objects, masterpieces of inlaid wood, the local specialty paintings, old clocks, oriental porcelain, and both Italian and foreign majolica wares.
The Sorrento Dome hosts many celebrities’ remains and it is famous for two religious events: The first one is the procession of Good Friday, also called the White procession, because people wear white clothes and follow the Statue of Virgin Mary who is looking for Jesus; The second event is the Black procession with all the people black dressed who follow the Statue of the Virgin Mary that find Jesus dead.

The gastronomic tradition is also very important. Everybody knows the big and tasty lemon of Sorrento that are essential to make typical drinks like the limoncello and cakes such as delizia al limone. Also, the pasta of Gragnano, few km away from Sorrento, the Parapandalo, a pink prawn that can be caught at the entrance of the grottoes, the pizza al metro of Vico Equense, which really is a meter of pizza, with a rectangular shape.
Sorrento is the perfect location if you are planning to visit different locations on the Coast. Very well connected to Naples, Pompeii and very close to the Amalfi coast and all the islands!