What to see in Sorrento in one day

Sorrento’s Cathedral was built in the fifteenth century on the site of an ancient place of worship and, over the centuries, has been the subject of several restoration interventions. Of the original style, only the marble lateral portal remains, which still bears the coats of arms of Sixtus IV of Aragon and Archbishop De Angelis. Inside this suggestive religious building, it is possible to admire works of great artistic value, such as the marble relief of the Redentore dating back to 1522, the archbishop’s throne, and the precious pulpit decorated with a Madonna and Child and the two San Giovanni di Silvestro Buono. The wooden crucifix, dating back to the 15th century, that dominates the 17th-century altar deserves special mention. The stylistic stratification that characterizes the Duomo is also evident in the bell tower: the base and three of the five floors that rise above Corso Italia date back to the eleventh century, while the upper part and the ceramic clock were made in the eighteenth century.

Originally dominated by the fifteenth-century Aragonese castle, today the square is named for its most famous citizen, Torquato Tasso, and crosses the bustling Corso Italia. On this open space, the beating heart of Sorrento and icon of the city, overlooks the Casa Correale, which stands out for its characteristic courtyard decorated with majolica and is home to the homonymous museum, the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine, which enchants visitors with its Baroque façade, and the historic Grand Hotel Vittoria, where Francesco Caruso stayed in 1921. One of the most evocative points of the square is the terrace that opens along the north side and overlooks the Vallone dei Mulini: from here, through a small road, you reach Marina Piccola.

Then, among the things to see in Sorrento, there is Marina Grande. Once you cross the ancient Greek Gate, the small pastel-coloured buildings, boats, and fishing nets introduce the visitor to the characteristic mood of the seaside village. Fans of the classics of Italian cinema will undoubtedly recognize the glimpses made famous by the film Pane,amore e … with Vittorio De Sica and Sofia Loren. The village is historically linked to the ancient shipyards that built the famous “gozzi Sorrentini”, fishing boats with sails and oars. If you are in the area on July 26, you can attend the celebrations of Sant’Anna, the patron saint of Marina Grande. The village is also the ideal place to enjoy a relaxing break in its bathing establishments or a characteristic lunch in the numerous restaurants.

Speaking of characteristic lunch: if you are visiting Sorrento, you cannot fail to plan a feast of typical flavors. The rich local gastronomy, based on high-quality raw materials such as oil, vegetables, nuts, cheese, and citrus fruits, has a lot to offer. All you have to do is sit in one of the restaurants that dot the city and let yourself be inspired: cannelloni with ricotta, lobster with tomato, eggplant parmigiana, octopus in casserole, and the famous gnocchi alla sorrentina, with tomato and stringy mozzarella, are just some of the specialties to bring to the table. And if you love desserts, here you will be spoiled for choice: from the traditional baba to the lemon cake, passing through sfogliatelle and follovielli –  delicious bundles filled with raisins – the local pastry is a riot of delicacies in which the citrus flavour is king. Of course, at the end of the meal, you cannot miss the famous limoncello, which clubs and restaurants offer in a strictly artisanal version.

The history of Sorrento is also intertwined with the story of the ancient noble seats: today, the city preserves a precious testimony of these medieval institutions with administrative functions: Sedil Dominova. This building, characterized by Renaissance architecture despite the numerous subsequent restylings, is structured in an arched loggia with two side balustrades. It is undoubtedly one of the things to see in Sorrento: inside, in fact, there are precious frescoes, while the internal vault of the seventeenth-century dome that surmounts the loggia presents the heraldic coats of arms of the noble families that belonged to the Sedile. A curiosity: the Workers’ Society for Mutual Aid has been based here since 1895.

This spectacular valley provides contemporary life with an essential testimony to the area’s geological history. Formed about 35,000 years ago following a violent eruption of the Phlegraean Fields – perhaps even the most devastating in the history of this volcanic area – the imposing fissure, over the millennia, has been exposed to the erosive dynamics of water, which have engraved and shaped the tuff base. The result is the valley we can still admire today, the best-preserved on the entire Sorrento Peninsula: from Piazza Tasso, it is possible to observe the central portion. This fascinating natural formation is also famous for the presence of a mill: today it is possible to see only the ruins, but the structure remained in use until the early twentieth century, when the construction of Piazza Tasso and the filling of the terminal part of the valley interrupted the connection between this area and the sea. The luxuriant vegetation that surrounds the mill ruins is the result of the exponential increase in humidity, which led to the definitive abandonment of this production area.