Sorrento - Tourist Information - travel guide

Sorrento - is surely the most famous town of the Amalfi coast, surrounded by landscapes full of charm as Vico Equense, Meta and Piano di Sorrento. Its name comes from the ancient “Surrentum”, given by the myth of Homeric sirens. It has very ancient origins and it seems to be inhabited since prehistory and later colonised by italic populations.
Sorrento, plunged in the green of olive trees and the orange of its citrus trees, represents a real jewel for the tourism of the whole campania region.
Several archaeological finds with others ruins which are situated in these places demonstrate that the old “Surrentum” was a place belonging to the roman patriciate.
This village, place of birth for the poet Torquato Tasso in 1544, was later administrated by the Emperor of Bisanzio, maintaining however a rather autonomy, in particular as Ducato Sorrentino, going from Samo to Punta Campanella. From the middle age to the modern age it became a conquered coutry for Normans, Angevins, Aragonese and Spanish.
In 1558 it was assaulted by Saracens, an assault which caused the whole rebuilding of the boundary walls for the protection of the town. During the seventh century there had been a development of agriculture, maritime market and production of silk.
During the following century the tourism and the crafts of inlaid works and embroidery established themselves as the new economic activities of this place.
Nowadays Sorrento is a traditional centre of tourism, provided of several hotels plugged into the silence and surrounded by the green of orange groves, parks and gardens trough which it is easy to reach a sea, of unique fascination and beauty, thanking also to the picturesque inlets which are on the coast.
Some places which are really full of charm are the Cathedral, the seat Dominova and Correale Museum of Terranova, where are conserved paintings and objects dated XVII and XVIII century..
The streets of the village are really characteristic and enriched by several shops which display their goods and offer also the opportunity to give tourist services, proposing art itinerary including churches and ancient buildings.
There are also a lot of restaurants which assure an unique service from the gastronomic point of view which allows the tourist to taste the delicious local dishes, as for example the Neapolitan pizza, or the Limoncello, produced in this area.

Every year there is a series of events in Sorrento. During the Easter period there are the traditional processions, during the Christmas period the living cribs in Mortora a Piano and in the parish of St Lucia in Sorrento. There is furthermore the bingo of the street of St Cesario, the New Year’s Day concert by the Rotary Club and the summer concerts by the famous cloister of St Francesco and finally the exhibition of camellias organised every two years by the garden club. All these events are organised by different cultural service centres and voluntarism in accordance with the municipal administrations

Correale museum of Terranova:

-the Dominova seat, the only evidence of ancient aristocratic seats, dated XVI century in St Cesario street.

-An house, dated XV sec, unique proof in Sorrento about the influence of masters from Toscana who operated in Napoli during the second half of XV century in Calantriano street.

-A part of the poet Torquato Tasso’s house of birth, happened in 1544, in particular two rooms of the original house, included in the Hotel Tramontano, in V.Veneto street.

-House of Cornelia Tasso, sister of the poet and Marzio Sersale’s wife, who lived in St. Nicola street, number 11

-Correale palace, dated XVI century, whose facade is decorated with beautiful ogival double lancet windows, made in dark tuff, with different shapes and drawings, and with small arches and lobed roses windows, located in Pietà street.

-Verniero Palace, dated XIII century, a work of great value because it represents an expression of the Arabic and the late Byzantine style, in Pietà Street.

-Seat of Porta, an other seat located in the corner between St. Cesareo street and Tasso Square, where is actually located the sorrrentino club.

-The cathedral and the bell tower. St Francesco street.

-Mary’s Servants church. Sersale street

-Pity’s Church. Pietà street.

-St Lady of the Annunciation’s Church. Fuoro Street.

-St. Antonio’s cathedral. S. Antonio square.

-St. Paolo church and monastry. Tasso street

-Rosary’s Church (former St. Felice and Baccolo’s Church). Tasso street.

-Our lady of Sorrows’ Church. S. Cesareo street.