Lemons, inlaid wood and terraces over the Gulf of Naples
Perched on a sheer tuff cliff above the sea, Sorrento has been one of the great destinations of the Mediterranean since the days of the Grand Tour: Byron, Goethe, Dickens and Ibsen stayed here, and the song "Torna a Surriento" made it famous worldwide. It is also the ideal base for exploring the Amalfi Coast, Capri and Pompeii.
The centre revolves around Piazza Tasso, named after the poet Torquato Tasso, who was born here. From there lanes lead to the cathedral, the cloister of San Francesco with its interlaced arches, and the Villa Comunale, a garden on the edge of the cliff with a breathtaking view of the gulf and Vesuvius. Below, the Marina Grande is an old fishing village with seafood restaurants. Sorrento is famous for its lemons, used to make limoncello, and for its craft of intarsia, inlaid wood, displayed in the Museo Bottega della Tarsia Lignea.
Tip: do not miss the Vallone dei Mulini, a deep gorge with an abandoned mill in the middle of town; from the port, ferries leave for Capri, Naples and Positano.
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