Although Sorrento is not part of the municipalities of the Amalfi Coast, because it is a short distance away, it is a destination you really cannot miss.
It is one of the most beautiful villages on the Sorrento Peninsula, a promontory of limestone rocks that stretches below the surface of the water and resurfaces with the island of Capri.
Compared to the Amalfi Coast, the beaches here are larger, and include: Marina Grande, surrounded by the village of the same name, where you can see fishermen's boats and catch a glimpse of an ancient Roman gate along the road down to the beach; Meta di Sorrento, the longest of the beaches; or Bagni della Regina Giovanna, named after Joanna I, Queen of the Kingdom of Naples in the 14th century.
In addition to the sea and the beaches, the town is famous for its cobblestone streets, lively craft stores, and terraces overlooking the sea.
The Old Town, with its tangle of alleys and squares, is dominated by Sorrento Cathedral, named after the Saints Philip and James. It was built in the early 12th century, but was expanded and altered in later stages between the 15th and 16th centuries. The rather plain façade is an example of early 20th-century neo-Gothic renovation, while the richly decorated interior preserves Baroque works of art and a fine high altar.
As you walk around the town, you’ll encounter several fine historic buildings; let me tell you about two in particular.
The first is Palazzo Veniero, in Arab-Byzantine style, with majestic arched windows and elaborate tufa stone decoration. The second is the building that is home to the Correale Museum, arranged on five levels and surrounded by a park with a citrus grove and panoramic terrace, which I’ll be describing in more detail in the next file.
If you stop for lunch or dinner here in Sorrento, don't forget to try this town's signature dish: gnocchi alla sorrentina, topped with tomato sauce and baked in the oven with stringy mozzarella cheese!
An interesting fact: In 1544, the well-known Italian writer Torquato Tasso, author of the poem "La Gerusalemme Liberata," was baptized in the Cathedral.
