Nearby: Sorrento
Lying on a tuff terrace overlooking the sea, Sorrento is a splendid city loved since ancient times for the clarity of its crystalline waters, the always pleasant climate, the breathtaking views and the spectacular landscapes.
Sorrento is the most beautiful and famous town on the suggestive Sorrento peninsula. A large number of beautiful beaches are hidden along the coast. In particular, in Capo di Sorrento, the limestone promontory that closes the bay of Sorrento to the west, there are the Bagni della Regina Giovanna, a scenic natural swimming pool with crystal clear waters. It is said that she was the setting for the sovereign’s meetings with her young lovers. Next to this fjord are the ruins of an ancient Roman villa from the 1st century BC. whose name was Villa Pollio Felice.
Sorrento has a lively and truly fascinating historic centre, which starts from Piazza Tasso and develops through the alleys of Corso Italia, where workshops and shops teem with inlaid wood works typical of local craftsmanship. Walking through its streets is an experience not to be missed.
If you are passionate about religious buildings, you cannot miss: the Cathedral dedicated to Saints Philip and James, which preserves the baptismal font where Torquato Tasso was baptised; the monumental Basilica of Sant’Antonino Abate, inside which the remains of the city’s patron saint are kept; the Church of San Francesco, where you can admire various works of art; and the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Carmine, rich in paintings of the Neapolitan school.
Of notable interest is the prestigious Museo Correale di Terranova, housed in an eighteenth-century villa surrounded by a wonderful citrus garden, with a terrace overlooking the sea. Defined by the great archaeologist Amedeo Maiuri as “the most beautiful Italian provincial museum”, it collects over 10,000 pieces including archaeological finds, paintings, furnishings, porcelain, clocks, figurines of the traditional Neapolitan nativity scene and wooden objects. Another museum not to be missed is the Wooden Inlay Workshop Museum, set up in the restored Palazzo Pomarici Santomasi, where an extraordinary collection of furniture and objects from the famous Sorrento school of inlay work is on display.
In addition to the vaunted scenic beauty and cultural attractions, Sorrento also offers a series of typical products such as the very famous limoncello, the delicious liqueur made with lemon peels which is a must to taste when visiting the town.
