East of the city centre, this wide-ranging museum is well worth a visit whether you're a clock collector, an archaeological egghead or into delicate…
Sorrento
A small resort with a big reputation, Sorrento is a town of lemons, high-pedigree hotels and plunging cliffs that cut through the heart of the historical core.
The town’s longstanding popularity stems from its location at the western gateway to the Amalfi. It’s also on the train line to Pompeii and has regular fast-ferry connections to Naples and Capri.
Tourism has a long history here. It was a compulsory stop on the 19th-century 'Grand Tour' and interest in the town was first sparked by the poet Byron, who inspired a long line of holidaying literary geniuses – including Goethe, Dickens and Tolstoy – to sample the Sorrentine air. The romance persists. Wander through Piazza Tasso on any given Sunday and you’ll be exposed to one of Italy’s finer passeggiatas (strolls), snaking past palatial hotels, magnificent marquetry shops and simple Campanian restaurants serving gnocchi alla sorrentina finished off with a shot of ice-cold limoncello.
Explore Sorrento
- Museo Correale di Terranova
East of the city centre, this wide-ranging museum is well worth a visit whether you're a clock collector, an archaeological egghead or into delicate…
- Museo Bottega della Tarsia Lignea
Since the 18th century, Sorrento has been famous for its intarsio (marquetry) furniture, made with elaborately designed inlaid wood. Some wonderful…
- Chiesa & Chiostro di San Francesco
Located next to the Villa Comunale Park, this church is best known for the peaceful 14th-century cloister abutting it, which is accessible via a small…
- Basilica di Sant’Antonino
Named after Sorrento's patron saint, the town's oldest church barely looks like a church at all from the outside. The interior paints a more ecclesial…
- Marina Grande
Noticeably detached from the main city and bereft of the hydrofoils and ferries that crowd Marina Piccola, this secluded former fishing village has a…
- Centro Storico
A major hub for shops, restaurants and bars, recently pedestrianised Corso Italia is the main thoroughfare shooting east-west through the bustling centro…
- Il Vallone dei Mulino
Just behind Piazza Tasso, a vertiginous natural phenomenon is on view from Via Fuorimura. Il Vallone dei Mulino is a deep mountain cleft that dates from a…
- Sedile Dominova
Incongruously wedged between racks of lemon-themed souvenir merchandise, this 15th-century domed palazzo (mansion) has exquisite, albeit faded, original…
- VVilla Fiorentino
Completed in the mid-1930s and recently restored, the gracious, neoclassical Villa Fiorentino is a venue for high-quality temporary art exhibitions and…
Top attractions
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Sorrento.
See
Museo Correale di Terranova
East of the city centre, this wide-ranging museum is well worth a visit whether you're a clock collector, an archaeological egghead or into delicate…
See
Museo Bottega della Tarsia Lignea
Since the 18th century, Sorrento has been famous for its intarsio (marquetry) furniture, made with elaborately designed inlaid wood. Some wonderful…
See
Chiesa & Chiostro di San Francesco
Located next to the Villa Comunale Park, this church is best known for the peaceful 14th-century cloister abutting it, which is accessible via a small…
See
Basilica di Sant’Antonino
Named after Sorrento's patron saint, the town's oldest church barely looks like a church at all from the outside. The interior paints a more ecclesial…
See
Marina Grande
Noticeably detached from the main city and bereft of the hydrofoils and ferries that crowd Marina Piccola, this secluded former fishing village has a…
See
Centro Storico
A major hub for shops, restaurants and bars, recently pedestrianised Corso Italia is the main thoroughfare shooting east-west through the bustling centro…
See
Il Vallone dei Mulino
Just behind Piazza Tasso, a vertiginous natural phenomenon is on view from Via Fuorimura. Il Vallone dei Mulino is a deep mountain cleft that dates from a…
See
Sedile Dominova
Incongruously wedged between racks of lemon-themed souvenir merchandise, this 15th-century domed palazzo (mansion) has exquisite, albeit faded, original…
See
Villa Fiorentino
Completed in the mid-1930s and recently restored, the gracious, neoclassical Villa Fiorentino is a venue for high-quality temporary art exhibitions and…
Featured videos
Italian Road Trip: From Napoli to Amalfi
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