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I shall always have fond memories of Sorrento. By Italian standards, Sorrento is a clean town. Sidewalks are swept and flower pots abound. There is about Sorrento a harmonious equation of land, water and people. Until the mid-20th century, the village was a small, genteel resort favored by central European princes, English aristocrats and American literati. But today, at least in the summer, it seems the entire world has discovered Sorrento. Tourists numbers drop off in the Spring and Fall, so the best time to visit is April to early June or mid-September and October.
Sorrento stands on a dramatic line of 150 foot cliffs, looking north across the Bay of Naples and it was originally a Greek village. Its name is derived from the mythical song of the mermaids. The very position of the town, built on a high plateau protected by the sea, is typically Greek. According to early Greek legend, it was at Sorrento that Ulysses heard the tempting song of the Sirens, those nymphs who labored long hours to seduce and shipwreck passing sailors.
The two marinas of Sorrento, the Marina Grande and the Marina Piccola, are a constant hub of activity. They lie at the base of the cliffs sloping down from the East and West side of the old town center. From above, it's hard to keep your eyes away this busy port.
Although few visitors come to this city to look at churches or museums, there are some worth exploring. The Museo Correale di Terranova was a gift to the city from two brothers, Alfredo and Pompeo, the Counts of Terranova. Opened in 1924, it houses ancient statues, porcelain, antiques and Italian art on three floors, within 24 rooms. The gardens offer views of the bay and steps leading down to the water.
The Cathedral of Sorrento was built in the eleventh century and reconstructed in the fifteenth. The interior of the church is in the shape of the Latin Cross. It houses works of Neapolitan art and has an adjoining bell tower.
Around the Piazza Tasso, considered the town square, are a number of shops selling embroidered goods and intarsia (wood inlay) work, both popular items from this region. The tradition of inlay woodwork in Sorrento goes back many centuries and is characterized by its lacy design sometimes used in furniture. Along narrow Via San Cesareo, where the air is filled with the perfumes of fruit and vegetable stands there are more shops selling local and Italian handicrafts. As a base for seeing other sites in the region, Sorrento is perfect. You can easily reach Pompeii, Naples, and Capri for day trips. Trains and several types of watercraft get you where you want to go. After a day's sights, you return not just to a hotel, but to a revitalizing, nourishing place. In Sorrento, everyone operates at an unhurried pace, even more so than other destinations in Italy. This permanently realized state of being seems to transfer itself to visitors. There is always time for one more cappuccino or splash of vino.
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