If I had to find a single word to describe Sorrento I would have to say cheerful. It is a fun, vibrant place to be. The streets are full of people, the shops are full of colourful ceramics and coral jewellery to buy and the restaurants are set prettily waiting to serve you some delicious food.
I took the boat from Napoli to Sorrento. It leaves from Molo Beverello at the port and is a far more pleasant way to arrive than the Circumvesuviana train that leaves from Stazione Centrale in Piazza Garibaldi and you get to see the gorgeous coastline along the way.
- leaving Napoli – look at the size of that cruise ship!
Vesuvius look beautiful from the sea. Let’s hope she stays asleep for a while longer.
- a beautiful day in the Bay of Naples
- Vesuvius look harmless today
- so much better than the train
- coming into Sorrento
- I
- the cliffs of Sorrento
- this is for you Caroline
Fortunately there is a bus which runs from the port to the central square in Sorrento as it is quite a hike .
- Piazza Tasso – the main square in Sorrento
The square was named after Torquato Tasso. The poet was born in Sorrento in 1544 and died in 1595 just before he was to be crowned poet laureate. He stands watch over the square.
- Torquato Tasso by sculptor Giovanni Carli in 1870
At the other end of the square is the Church of Maria del Carmine with its yellow wedding cake facade.
- looking towards Maria del Carmine
The town is split by a narrow ravine formed by a mountain stream, which is now just a trickle.
- looking into the ravine
Villa Comunale is a large park that sits on the clifftop overlooking the Bay of Naples. Steps lead from here down to the Marina Piccola.
- from Villa Comunale
- the Bay of Naples from Villa Comunale
- looking down to the marina
Near the Villa Comunale is the Convento di san Francesco with its beautiful 14th century cloister.
- the 14th century cloister
Just outside the Villa Comunale gardens was a cranky little man selling fruit and vegetables from the back of is tiny truck. I hope his fruit was sweeter than his disposition.
- the crabby fruit seller
On the way back to the centre I spotted this pretty restaurant getting ready for the evening.
- I wouldn
I wandered back to Via S. Cesario and found another pretty church.
- the pretty pink church in Via S Cesareo
Not far from here is the Largo Dominova, the little square that is in the heart of Sorrento’s historic centre. The showpiece here is the Sedile Dominova, a beautiful open loggia that will be the subject of a post all of its own soon.
- Sedile Dominova
A little further along the street from here is my neice Rosa’s shop. If you are going to buy coral in Sorrento, you must buy it here.
- Rosa
I don’t think it is possible to leave Sorrento without buying ceramics.
- a ceramic shop on Via S. Cesareo
The centre of town comes alive in the evening for passeggiata.
- Piazza Tasso in the evening
- Albergo Vittoria – I want to stay here
- the pretty yellow church at night
- evening in Sorrento
Sorrento is a great jumping off point for Capri, Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. I spent an afternoon in Ravello on this trip and I will share my findings with you soon. Sorrento has been popular for centuries since it became part of the Grand Tour and deserves at least a few days of your time.