SORRENTO
The most famous and perhaps the most beautiful of the Sorrentine Peninsular, pleasantly surrounded by the characteristic towns of Vico Equense, Meta, Piano di Sorrento. A traditional holiday centre, with many hotels dipped in the silence and surrounded by the greenery of lemons and orange groves, small parks, gardens and limpid sea. Under the historical and cultural profiles are very interesting the Dome, the Sedile Domilnova and the Correale of Terranova Museum where objects and paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries are to be found. From the sea, legend narrates, mythical mermaids tempted Ulysses with melodious songs. Still today going on this inviting sea - with its blue and green reflections with a thousand different shades depending on the splendour of the sun - one can still try to imagine the enticing and beautiful mermaids calling from the waves of the sea. But perhaps Sorrento is a mermaid that fascinates and bewitches through the perfume of lemon and orange trees, the dark olive trees with silver leaves that whisper in the wind rising from the sea, through the rock formed by a far away volcano.
The preferred land by the Greek and the Romans. In succession dominated by the Byzantines. It was a free duchy until Ruggero the Norman conquered it and made it part of the Kingdom of Naples. For several times its coasts were attacked by the Saracens. In 1544, in Sorrento, was born the famous poet Torquato Tasso. The Villa, his birthplace, is now part of the historic Hotel Tramontano. The house of his sister Cornelia, wife of Don Marzio Sersale - a noble Sorrentine gentleman - still stands in the historical centre, in Via S. Nicola. Sorrento’s name drew the attention of writers, poets, genteel society and people of the theatre.
The historic streets, filled today with vibrant shops selling various goods, form interesting artistic routes winding along churches and ancient buildings. Finally, there is the best jewel of Sorrento: the Correale di Terranova Museum with its collection of inlaid wood works, porcelains, paintings, sculptures, laces and majolica all shown in a stylish building strategically positioned within the greenery of a garden: with the sea and the bay of Naples in the distance.
Sorrento the small capital of the peninsula that, from Vico Equense to Sant’Agata sui due Golfi, is rich of splendid localities. Restaurants and bars offering a very high quality of gastronomy. The “Don Alfonso 1890” restaurant in Sant’Agata sui due Golfi awarded three stars in the Michelin guide. Bars offering home-made cakes, buns, ice-creams perhaps with a few drops of the now famous “lemoncello”. And the world famous Neapolitan pizza: a great dish for all kinds of pockets!
