Sorrento

Piazza Tasso and Corso Italia

The heart of Sorrento is Piazza Tasso, home to a monument dedicated to writer Torquato Tasso, sculpted by Gennaro Calì. The Aragonese Castle, built by Ferdinand of Aragon in the 15th century, once stood here but was demolished in the late 19th century. The 19th century saw a major urban redevelopment of the city that resulted not only in the castle’s destruction but also in the demolition of the city walls and Porta Piano.

Important buildings overlook the square, including the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine, Casa Correale, and the elegant Grand Hotel Vittoria. From here begins Corso Italia, Sorrento’s most famous shopping street, lined with numerous restaurants serving the celebrated Sorrento gnocchi.

San Francesco Complex

The San Francesco monastery complex comprises a cloister, monastery and church constructed in the 14th century by Franciscan friars. Built on the site of an ancient oratory founded by Saint Antoninus, the church has undergone numerous modifications and restorations, revealing baroque-style architecture inside with a single nave, whilst the exterior façade is in white marble dating from the 20th century.

Adjacent to the church stands the San Francesco Cloister, still inhabited by convent friars today, erected in the 14th century and displaying elements of the original architecture intermingled with various styles, providing a perfect testament to the many civilisations that dominated the city.

Villa Comunale

Built in the late 19th century, the Villa Comunale di Sorrento, just steps from Piazza Tasso and the San Francesco complex, was constructed on a cliff edge overlooking the sea and is one of Sorrento’s unmissable attractions. Featuring ancient trees and positioned perfectly, it’s among the city’s most beautiful viewing points, offering stunning vistas across the entire bay and the Vesuvius.

From here, a pleasant stroll down a scenic descending path leads to Marina Piccola and Sorrento’s port in just a few minutes, or you can take a convenient lift if you prefer.

Vallone dei Mulini

The Vallone dei Mulini (Valley of the Mills) lies right in the centre of Sorrento and is a truly captivating attraction drawing thousands of Italian and foreign visitors annually. The Sorrentine Peninsula was once divided into five valleys, each with its own small settlement.

This particular valley was once owned by the Correale family, who built a grain mill here, giving the valley its name. The mill, used until the early 1900s for grinding grain, was subsequently abandoned and fell into disuse. Today the building is inaccessible, but the remains, set in a unique natural landscape just steps from the historic centre, can be photographed from outside.

Sorrento Cathedral

The Sorrento Cathedral, dedicated to Saints Philip and James, stands in the historic centre and originally dates back to the 1st century AD, though what we see today results from extensive restoration work. Completely rebuilt in the 15th century in Romanesque style, the religious building underwent numerous restoration operations that completely transformed its architecture.

Original elements from the 15th century still visible include the marble side portal, the 1522 work of the Redeemer in the first chapel, and the archbishop’s throne. The Latin-cross layout features three naves and houses impressive artworks, including canvases by Giacomo del Po’ and Silvestro Buono’s “Madonna and Child” on the pulpit.

Basilica of Sant'Antonino Abate

The Basilica of Sant’Antonino Abate is the most visited church in Sorrento, dedicated to Saint Antoninus, the city’s patron saint to whom numerous miracles are attributed. The religious building appears to date from around the year 1000 and stands where the Saint’s tomb was located.

Over the centuries, the church underwent several restoration projects, resulting in its present structure with a façade in Romanesque style built from grey tufa, whilst the interior features three naves with six columns on each side topped by ovals containing frescoes. The ceiling is decorated with a coffered design and golden rosettes against a blue background, with 18th-century canvases by Giambattista Lama.

Sedile Dominova

Via Cesareo, one of the streets parallel to Corso Italia, was once the city’s most important thoroughfare, home to the most prestigious patrician residences. The famous Sedile Dominova, an ancient noble seat built between the 12th and 13th centuries, was erected here to house part of the city’s aristocracy and served as the seat for managing civic affairs.

While one section of the nobility gathered at the Domus Novae (from which Dominova derives), another met at the Sedile di Porta, of which some remains still exist on this street near Piazza Tasso. This building has been restored and modified many times, though the main façade still features a splendid marble balustrade with two tufa coats of arms dating from the 14th century.

Two sides display arched loggias enclosed by balustrades, whilst the others are adorned with magnificent frescoes from the 18th century. A 17th-century dome covered in green and yellow majolica tiles crowns the loggia, its vault bearing the standards of the noble families that made up the Sedile.

Queen Giovanna's Baths

A visit to Sorrento wouldn’t be complete without seeing the famous Queen Giovanna’s Baths, known since ancient times and named after Queen Joanna of Anjou who loved bathing in this unspoilt area. This ancient slice of paradise, characterised by crystal-clear waters, is reached via Capo di Sorrento and then a short walk along a marked path.

The route to the baths is well signposted and passes through a wild stretch of coastline that has been hit by landslides, so it’s advisable to check accessibility before visiting. Given limited parking in the area, you might prefer reaching the baths by bus.