Sorrento in 11 Pictures

After taking you to Gargano and Cinque Terre, we’d like to show you another amazing Italian location; Sorrento. It’s so beautiful, that I don’t think words can do it justice.

Sorrento in 11 Pictures – Prepare to be Amazed!

1) The Cliffs

Sorrento was the legendary cove of the Mermaids, beautiful creatures that bewitched sailors with their beautiful singing, causing them to crash their boats onto vertical cliffs.

Ulysses was curious of listening to the Mermaids’ singing, so he plugged his sailors’ ears with wax and tied himself to the mast.

2) The Beaches

Sorrento is surrounded by cliffs, and beaches are scarce. Private beaches take up most of Sorrento’s premium coastline, with umbrellas and sunloungers arranged in neat rows. There are a couple of free beaches; a swim in the clear blue waters is the perfect way to cool off after a day sightseeing.

3) The Coast

One amazing hotel after another, perched on top of the high Sorrento cliffs. I’m sure you’d get a million-dollar view from those.

 4) The Fruit

Walking around  the alleyways, you’ll find greengrocers like this with a bounty of fruit on display. Try pesche saturnine (bottom-right corner) a delicious local variety.

5) Marina Piccola

Marina Piccola is the harbour where ferries to Naples, Capri and Ischia arrive and depart. It is dominated by the beautiful Hotel Excelsior-Vittoria; on the right corner of the picture it is possible to notice Sorrento’s ravine, a narrow opening in the cliffs caused by volcanic activity.

6) Marina Grande

In our opinion, this is the most picturesque area; an old fishing village by the sea, with far fewer tourists than the narrow streets of the historical centre. There are steps leading down to Marina Grande from the centre; it is about a fifteen-minute walk.

7) Pizza

Don’t forget we’re close to Naples; this is prime pizza territory. If you’ve had too may pizze, try saltimbocca – cured ham and mozzarella sandwiches, oven-baked in bread made from pizza dough. Here’s our article on the Sorrento Food Tour we took!

8) Lemons

Giant, knobbly and deep yellow, Sorrento lemons are a delicacy. Try limoncello, lemon sorbet or lemon granite, or even eat them as they are to appreciate their unique tangy sweetness.

9) Valle dei Mulini

My very own favourite, this place spells fairytale. Remember the ravine we mentioned before? A stream runs through it, powering a watermill that was used to grind wheat. Until, in 1860, access to the ravine was blocked to allow the construction of Piazza Tasso, Sorrento’s main square. A new microclimate was created; cool and humid, allowing ferns and carnivorous plants to grow and envelop the watermill, now a ruin. It is impossible to access the valley (even though there are steps leading down!) but you can get a great view from above.

10) Sunset

There’s no better way to end a day in Sorrento with a seafood dinner at sunset in a beachfront Marina Grande restaurant.

11) Mount Vesuvius

She’s always there, across the bay, reminding everyone that it is her who created and shaped the land around Sorrento.