4 Top Sights of Sorrento

Staying along the Amalfi Coast on the Sorrentine Peninsula puts visitors in the proximity of Sorrento, the peninsula’s principal town. Ferries and the main road make it a highly convenient destination for people staying in one of the Amalfi villas. The town has its origins in the pre-Roman past, but it eventually became part of the Roman Empire and later saw prosperity and strife through the Middle Ages. Its status as a renowned tourist town got off to a good start, with visitors including Keats, Lord Byron, Goethe and Walter Scott. It remains a delightful place to spend a day and follow in the footsteps of those famous tourists. Top sights include Piazza Tasso, the Museo Correale di Terranova, the Marina Grande and Cattedrale dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo.

Piazza Tasso

A central square in the town, Piazza Tasso is a fine place to begin on day trips for visitors staying in the Amalfi villas. It is named for Torquato Tasso, a 16th century Italian poet, best known for his piece about the First Crusade. The Baroque Church del Carmine stands on the square and is a handsome building with a yellow exterior and a notable interior painting by the 17th century artist Onofrio Avellino. From the square, visitors can walk onto the shopping street Via San Cesareo.

Museo Correale di Terranova

The Museo Correale di Terranova is a museum near Piazza Tasso, located in one of the most splendid, historic Amalfi villas and surrounded by a citrus grove with a terrace view over the Bay of Naples. The exhibits cover primarily 17th and 18th century work, with paintings, furniture, majolica (tin-glazed pottery), chinaware and watches, as well as a minor archaeological section. The library holds some of the works of Torquato Tasso. Artists whose work is exhibited in the galleries include Caracciolo, Andrea Vaccaro, Corenzio, Rubens, Giovan Battista Ruoppolo, Gaspard Dughet and Antonie Sminck Pitloo.

Marina Grande

The Marina Grande is Sorrento’s main harbour and a perfect place to relax in the town. Its beach has the expected comforts of loungers and umbrellas, against a backdrop of colourfully painted houses and bright fishing boats. Its restaurants serve up the morning’s catch with other specialities of the local cuisine. Visitors staying in Amalfi villas who want to take the town at a slow pace may want to venture no further than the shore all day. More energetic ones can set off to the town’s other sights.

Cattedrale dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo

Cattedrale dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo (also known as Sorrento Cathedral) was rebuilt in the 15th century in a Romanesque style, on the site of a cathedral dating to at least the 11th century. As befitting its status, it is a beautiful building with interior paintings by Nicola Malinconico and Giacomo del Po. It is famous locally for being the baptismal cathedral of Torquato Tasso. Those coming to the town from the nearby Amalfi villas will certainly want to explore inside.

Jonathan Magoni is Senior Manager of Cottages to Castles, a family owned company specialising in high quality holiday villas, apartments and cottages in Italy. For spectacular Amalfi villas or accommodation in the Italian lakes, ski resorts or city centres, we offer only the very best. Discover Italy at your own pace and without time restrictions in our hand picked villas and cottages.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.