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The city of Sorrento
For centuries vacation destination of hundreds of visitors, Sorrento is among the most visited Italian destinations. The culinary tradition, the architectural heritage and the natural beauty make Sorrento a place of tranquility and rest. Those who visit Sorrento cannot fail to take a leap into the past to discover the Tarantella, the typical dance of the Sorrento tradition, the inevitable tasting of typical dishes such as gnocchi alla sorrentina and lemon delight. The historical center shows intact the architectural style of past centuries with the ancient narrow streets and high walls to protect from invaders. Torquato Tasso, Nietzsche, Caruso, Ibsen, Goethe, are just some of the illustrious names who have stayed or lived here.
Top 10 attractions in Sorrento
1. Piazza Tasso
Tasso Square (by Torquato Tasso) is the main square of the city, a place to go to almost all the attractions. In the area of the square there are many bars, restaurants, and shops. From the square you can go directly down to the Marina Piccola.
2. Villa comunale
The Villa Comunale is a group of small gardens terraced towards the sea, located in the historical center of the city, inside, there is a bar, and a series of stairs that go down to Marina Grande, accompanied by a privileged view.
3. Marina Grande
Marina Grande, although contradictory, is the structurally smallest port in Sorrento, where we will normally find the boats of local and private fishermen. Marina Grande is famous for its excellent restaurants and the small beach that provides refreshment for visitors to the area.
4. Baths of Queen Giovanna
Baths (Bagni) of Regina Giovanna is a natural swimming pool located south of Sorrento, separated from the sea by an arch of natural stone. It was chosen by Queen Giovanna II of Naples in her youth for private relaxation. It is a place of great natural beauty.
5. Cloister of San Francesco
The cloister of the church of San Francesco is one of the oldest monuments still visible in the city of Sorrento, a church built during the 14th century. The internal cloister, mixes details and architecture of various styles and religions.
6. Ancient walls
The ancient walls of Sorrento, according to scholars, could have existed since Greek times, but an approximation to their current appearance would be achieved only in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The walls have defended the town since medieval times against numerous invasions.
7. Historical center
The small streets of the historical centre of the town, boast structures and decorations that tell a story from Roman times, domes, facades of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, plaques and writings that go back even further through the history of Sorrento.
8. Cathedral
The cathedral was completed at the beginning of the 11th century, underwent numerous modifications over the years, affected by the Turkish invasion of the 1500s and numerous modifications required by the bishops of the time. The cathedral today, presents an imposing Neogothic style.
9. Factories of Limoncello
The Limoncello is a beverage obtained from lemon peels and pure alcohol, which marks a centennial tradition in the culture of Sorrento, it is possible to visit some of the structures that manufacture and sell it around the city.
10. Correale museum
The Correale di Terranova museum is an art gallery and archaeology establishment in the city of Sorrento. It was opened in 1924. The museum houses a large part of the artistic heritage of the Pompeo and Alfredo Correale brothers, owners of a large villa that today houses the premises.
How reach Sorrento
From Naples you can reach the Sorrento Coast by taking the A3 freeway and exit at Castellamare di Stabia. At this point you must continue on the SS 145 towards Meta. From Meta continuing along Corso Italia you will arrive in Sorrento after about 5 km. On the road you will find signs for the various towns of the peninsula: Vico Equense, Meta, Piano di Sorrento, Sant’Agnello, Sorrento and Massa Lubrense.
Journey time with regular traffic about 1h and 15 minutes.
The circumvesuviana from Naples is taken at the Central Station of Piazza Garibaldi. The train Napoli-Torre Annunziata-Sorrento leaves every 30 minutes and takes about 1h and 10 minutes. In the period from April to October there is a special tourist train (Campania Express) that arrives in Sorrento. The cost of the Campania Express is 8 euros per person for the Naples-Sorrento route and the journey time is about 45 minutes.
The differences compared to other trains that cover the same line is the exclusive presence of tourists on board and the guarantee of seating, air conditioning and luggage space.
The closest airport to sorrento is the international airport of Napoli Capodichino, from here to get to the coast you can get on the Alibus that leads to the Central Station and from there take the trains to the peninsula. Or, always from the airport you can use the Curreri buses that arrive in sorrento and leave every hour and thirty or so. The price of the Curreri is 10 euros per person.
In the port of Naples, from the pier beverello leave every two hours about hydrofoils, catamarans or other fast boats that arrive in Sorrento in about 40 minutes.
In the summer period is also added the Metro del Mare that arrives in Cilento touching all the most important ports of the Sorrento and Amalfi coasts.
Travel tips
To visit Sorrento and its main attractions takes about a couple of days. It is always recommended, however, if you have the opportunity to stay a few more days to be able to visit everything you want in total tranquility.
The whole center of Sorrento overlooks the sea and it is nice to reach all its most beautiful places on foot, walking through the alleys and reaching its two ports.
Sorrento, however, is mainly used as a support thanks to its strategic location, which allows you to reach in a short time the islands, the Amalfi coast and the entire Gulf of Naples. In this case, if you have the possibility, it is worth staying for about 4-5 days.
Sorrento has a vast territory, all connected by a public bus service made available by different companies such as Sita or Eav circumvesuviana. Timetables change according to the season and the place to reach, but usually for short trips there are buses every half an hour, to reach instead neighboring towns there are buses approximately every hour.
In addition, there are many cabs and ncc working on the territory. It is also possible to rent cars, scooters or minibuses.
If you rent a scooter, it will be very easy to park it everywhere, while if you rent a car or a mini van for the whole trip, it is better to stay in a place with parking. Sorrento center is full of parking lots where you pay about €2-3 per hour, but in high season they fill up easily. Often you rent a car daily to reach the Amalfi coast: you will enjoy a breathtaking landscape, but in high season it is not recommended. The parking lots between Positano and Amalfi are small and fill up easily, moreover the probability of being stuck in traffic for a long time is high. The only reason you might want to go to the coast with a rented car is the possibility to reach Ravello easily.
It is important to know that in the Sorrento peninsula, there are some hotels, many b&b’s and apartments that cannot be reached by car or mini van, as they are located in a narrow alley that does not allow any vehicle to reach them.
Although the city of Sorrento is visited all year round, normally the best period to get to know it is outside the school year, between the months of June and September. The period between September and October is favorable in terms of climate, as the summer heat can sometimes be very high.
Day 1: visit the city of Sorrento walking through the stores of Corso Italia, admiring its alleys full of souvenir stores, taste a good ice cream in Piazza Lauro and a good coffee in Piazza Tasso. Visit the majestic Cathedral and Dinner in a typical restaurant overlooking the sea
Day 2: visit the famous island of capri.Located a few miles from Sorrento, Capri will give you breathtaking landscapes and crystal clear waters where you can swim. Among the gardens of Augustus, the famous Piazzetta, Villa San Michele and the chairlift, this island will surely make you spend an unforgettable day.
Day3: Visit the majestic ruins of Pompeii. You will feel immersed in history and you will be fascinated by the discoveries that every day archaeologists manage to uncover. After a morning among the ruins, you can continue towards a climb to Mount Vesuvius that will give you a beautiful view of the Gulf of Naples.
Day 4: A few meters from the town of Sorrento, there is the Amalfi Coast. It is absolutely necessary to visit Positano, as small as it is unique, and then reach the center of Amalfi where you can visit the incredible Amalfi Cathedral and finally go up to Ravello, which even though it is not on the sea, enjoys one of the most beautiful views of the coast.