Travel Eye on Sorrento (Italy)

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Overview:

Perched high on a cliff and surrounded on three sides by deep ravines, Sorrento is an enchanting town. Its spectacular position overlooking the sea to Vesuvius in the distance has been attracting visitors since the early 19th century. Today it is a lively, vibrant resort, a lovely place to get a feel for the southern Italian way of life.

Not without reason is Sorrento one of Italy's most popular resorts: its temperate climate, undeniably scenic coastal setting and refined ambience have been attracting foreign visitors for over 200 years. Though it hasn't a lot of individual sights to boast of, it's a superb town for wandering, and comfortable, too, given that it measures a compact, fairly level 2¼ by ¾ mls.

There are two public beaches, Marina Piccola has a tiny patch of dark sand/shingle protected by a long jetty and Marina Grande has a tiny, crowded strip of sand, plus groups of wooden platforms with amenities.

This city caters for both upmarket and middlemarket visitors. There is not much to do for children, who may find it boring. It is beautiful and titillating for singles, romantic for couples of all ages and very popular with honeymooners.

Locality:

Sorrento is located about a third of the way up the W coast of the boot of Italy, on the S side of the Bay of Naples ( 160 mls SE of Rome, 11 mls W of Positano, 22 mls W of Amalfi, 34 mls S of Naples and its airport). Sorrento is positioned in a sheltered spot on a flattish clifftop terrace, 50 yds above the sea, surrounded by steeply rising, thickly wooded hills with olive and citrus groves and vineyards. Bordered on one side by steep cliffs; a deep gorge runs down to a port.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

The wonders of Pompeii are within easy reach, or you can take a ferry or hydrofoil to the islands in the bay. The most famous is Capri, a magical spot with dramatic cliffs and rocks and an abundance of luxuriant suptropical plants plus designer shops at designer prices. Its neighbour Ischia has many excellent beaches and is known for its hot mineral springs, which have attracted cure-seekers since Roman times. Back on the mainland, don't miss the chance to drive along the spectacular road that borders the Amalfi coast and, of course, dont miss out on a visit to Rome while you are there.

One of the great pleasures of the day is to join the locals in their traditional stroll or passegiata through the old town, a ritual that begins at dusk and continues well into the evening. Wander the same streets by day when the shops are open, and you will be tempted by an array of local crafts such as perfume, lace, straw plaiting and inlaid walnut woodwork, Sorrento's speciality.

The graceful peak of Mt Vesuvius is visible from most places. Sorrento is not only an attraction in itself, but serves as an ideal base for visiting nearby sights, such as the picturesque villages of the rugged Amalfi coastline, Naples and the ancient sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum are all within easy reach.

Daylight brings an array of water sports, tennis, or simply watching the world go by from a cafe terrace. Frequent religious events and processions are held at the Cathedral. There are also some fantastic archaeological and cultural museums.

Night time offers a few discos and piano bars. A cinema with films dubbed in Italian. Atmospheric Foreigners' Club with live music. Classical-music concerts in the cloisters of San Francesco in the summer. 2 British-style pubs and a theatre. Many hotels, particularly the far-flung, have musical evenings and dancing.

There is an Impressive choice of pizzerias and restaurants, with the emphasis on S Italian cuisine. Plenty of authentic trattorias and ice-cream parlours (some of which offer over 40 flavours). Local specialities include seafood, various almond cakes and tarts, and smoked or grilled cheeses.