By Rachel Diebel
Separated from the much busier Naples by an hour-long train ride, Sorrento is a beautiful little town on the edge of the famed Amalfi Coast, famous for its huge lemons and delicious limoncello (an Italian liqueur made from lemon peel). The narrow streets of Sorrento’s old town are perfect for exploring on foot at any hour of the day or night. Travelers weary of closely guarding their purses can ease up a little in the small-town atmosphere and enjoy the lively and safe streets.
About Sorrento
There’s a lot for even the most casual visitor to see in Sorrento’s old town. The main square, Piazza Tasso, spans a deep ravine. If you walk inland a block and look down over the green railing, you can see the remains of stairs and buildings built many centuries ago. Walking down the narrow street behind the statue in Piazza Tasso takes you past the Sorrento Cathedral and an example of one of the many small altars to saints built into walls or fences in Italy.
Between the cathedral and the waterfront are countless stores to tempt tourists with handmade pottery and more lemon-themed trinkets than you could possibly imagine. To find real lemons, though, wander into the lemon grove situated right in the center of old town Sorrento. Anyone is allowed to walk the shady paths and stop to sample (or buy) limoncello at the stand in the center of the grove. The gardeners have even found a way to grow lemons and limes on the same tree!
Walk along the road at the edge of the cliffside to find some perfect little gardens to sit and watch the sun set–you won’t want to miss it.
Marina Grande
The larger of Sorrento’s two main marinas, the Marina Grande can be accessed by bus or via a trek down Via Marina Grande, a main road close to the waterfront. If you choose to walk, you will pass through an ancient Greek gate under the old city wall. This wall separated the citizens of Sorrento from those of Marina Grande, who were considered to be an entirely different people, even rumored to be pirates.
The marina itself boasts the best sand beach in Sorrento, although it is very small and you’ll be sharing it with local fishermen hauling in their wares. It’s also lined with restaurants that serve fresh fish caught by the fisherman who still hold up the tradition of taking their wooden boats out to the sea and sitting with their hand-mended nets, waiting for the catch of the day.
Marina Piccola
The smaller marina, though with less shopping and restaurants than its larger companion, still has a lot to offer. Take the steep hike down the stairs from Piazza Tasso, grab a bus or wait in line for the elevator to reach the bottom of the cliff. Once there, you’ll encounter a gorgeous and uninterrupted view of the Bay of Naples, with Mount Vesuvius in the background.
Take a stroll around the marina and pause at the concrete barrier at the edge to stop and take in the view, or rent one of the lawn chairs in the marina to soak up some sunshine. Marina Piccola is the main dock for cruise ships coming into Sorrento, as well as for the smaller jet boat service that takes sightseers to the nearby island of Capri. Less crowded than the town or larger marina, Marina Piccola is the perfect place for an afternoon picnic.
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Photo credits:
Sorrento: Glen Scarborough via Flickr
Sorrento Shop: Stefano Costantini via Flickr
Sorrento Street: Dave & Margie Hill via Flickr
Marina Piccola: Gerry Labrijn via Flickr