Story and Photographs by Christopher J Davies.
The photo above is a sign of the view of Naples Bay, "Te voglio bene assaje" I love you very much
We landed in Naples at noon and collected our luggage.
Our driver met us in the airport’s reception area and whisked us away in his black van towards Sorrento. Antonio spoke excellent English and was in a chipper, chatty mood.
He decided to educate us on the differences between Sorrento lemons and Amalfi lemons. Sorrento’s world-famous lemons are more round and plump compared to the tapered shape of the smaller Amalfi lemon.
Antonio sped down the A3 Napoli-Salerno autostrada, weaving past tourist buses and commuters on the winding road. We exited the Autostrada onto a local road that passed through several long tunnels, avoiding congested coastal towns.
The 45-minute drive cost €145 but was worthwhile since we had multiple suitcases and heavy camera bags.
Al Centro Suites
We found this small family-owned B&B online. Al Centro is well situated near Sorrento’s main plaza (Piazza Tasso). They have two multi-level double rooms plus a multi-level suite. All have terraces with seating, allowing you to take in spectacular views of the Bay of Naples. We stayed in the Mughetto Room (€92.50 per night).
Villa Comunale Park is just a five-minute walk away and features a terraced walkway overlooking the shore, offering panoramic views of the Bay of Naples, with Vesuvius looming in the distance.
Al Centro Suites
Via San Francesco 1
80067 Sorrento
https://www.alcentrosorrento.it/en/
Villa Comunale Park
The park has gardens and several statues with busts of historic figures. The entrance wall features an admired Sorrento mural, titled “Sorrento loves Art,” featuring portraits of local artists.
https://www.sorrentoreview.com/villa-comunale-park.html
Signature Sorrento Dish:
Gnocchi alla Sorrentina (Sorrento-style gnocchi) is a traditional Southern Italian comfort food that comes from Sorrento. You will find it at almost every restaurant in town.
Ingredients:
- Soft Potato Dumplings (gnocchi)
- Baked in fresh tomatoes and basil grown in volcanic soil, made into a sauce.
- Smothered in fresh Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Where to Eat:
Fauno Bar
Located right in Piazza Tasso, this bar and restaurant has a prime position at the center of the tourist area. They feature a large, easily recognizable Art Deco sign.
They open at 8:00 am, serving breakfast and espresso, and continue serving lunch and dinner all day. During the busy season, Fauno Bar is a popular stop for tour groups.
Fauno has great, authentic Campania food and an extensive menu reminiscent of a New York diner.
We met several friends on the enclosed, heated patio and enjoyed Negronis and Campania’s popular, highly acidic Fiano di Avellino (DOC) white wine. At the end of your meal, you may be surprised to be served a complimentary dram of local limoncello.
Fauno Bar
https://www.faunobar.it/
Ristorante ZI’ Ntonio
This restaurant offers a superb selection of Sorrento classics. They have a great wine list.
Our group decided to order a selection of dishes to sample.
- Roasted Sea Bream
- Sautéed mussels with EVO, garlic, parsley, and white wine.
- Red prawns with langostino and tomatoes
- Gnocchi alla Sorrentina
- Mixed seafood sauté
- Tiramisu
- Deliza Al Limone
The food was well prepared. The service was outstanding.
Ristorante ZI’ Ntonio
Via Luigi de Maio, 9-11, 80067 Sorrento
https://www.ristorantezintoniosorrento.com/
Limoncello Producer:
Sorrento Excellence
This is a must-visit for lovers of everything lemon.
They are in Meta, at the beginning of the Sorrento Peninsula.
Sorrento Excellence is a large producer of limoncello and host of guided factory tours, along with a gift shop, bar, and restaurant. The gift shop sells limoncello, locally handmade ceramics, and lemony gifts. They will ship your purchases if needed. When the weather is behaving, you will want to grab a seat and sip a drink on the Mamà bar’s expansive terrace overlooking the spectacular, picture-perfect Gulf of Sorrento.
Sorrento Excellence
https://www.sorrentoexcellence.com/en/index
Sorrento is an excellent base for visiting Campania’s hot spot attractions.
Circumvesuviana Train
The Circumvesuviana Train has many departures to Naples, with stops in Pompeii and Herculaneum. Important: You must purchase tickets online before arriving at the Sorrento train station. Weirdly, the ticket window does not sell tickets for this train. The window clerks are rude and will wave you away. The crew for the Circumvesuviana Train is friendly and speaks English.
- The train to Pompeii (Pompei Scavi - Villa dei Misteri) takes 39 minutes.
- The train to Herculaneum (Ercolano Scavi) takes 1 hour.
The Circumvesuviana trains have several express trains with shorter travel times.
https://www.visitpompeiivesuvius.com/en/naples-to-sorrento-train-schedule?route=sorrento_napoli
Ferry to Capri
You can take a ferry from Sorrento to the Isola (Island) of Capri. Some ferries take only 14 minutes. Departures leave Sorrento from Marina Piccola.
You can reach the port on foot from Piazza Tasso, or by bus. There is also an elevator connecting the Villa Comunale of Sorrento to the port.
For schedules and tickets, visit:
https://www.ferryhopper.com