Sights in Sorrento
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Chiesa di San Francesco
Located next to the Villa Communale Park, this is one of Sorrento’s most beautiful churches. Surrounded by bougainvillea and birdsong, the evocative cloisters have an Arabic portico and interlaced arches, supported by octagonal pillars. The church is most famous, however, for its summer program of concerts featuring world-class performers from the classical school. If this strikes a chord, check out the schedule at the tourist office. There are also regular art exhibitions.
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Duomo
To get a feel for Sorrento’s history, stroll down Via Pietà from Piazza Tasso and past two medieval palaces en route to the cathedral with its striking exterior fresco, triple-tiered bell tower, four classical columns and elegant majolica clock. Take note of the striking marble bishop’s throne (1573) and the beautiful wooden choir stalls decorated in the local intarsio style.
The cathedral’s original structure dates from the 15th century but it has been altered several times, most recently in the early 20th century when the current facade was added.
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Cathedral
The gleaming white facade of the cathedral gives no hint of the exuberance housed within. There's a particularly striking Crucifixion above the main altar. The triple-tiered bell tower rests on an archway into which three classical columns and a number of other fragments have been set.
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Museo Correale
Located to the east of the city centre, this museum is well worth a visit whether you are a clock collector, an archaeological egghead or into embroidery. In addition to the rich assortment of 17th- to 19th-century Neapolitan art and crafts, there are Japanese, Chinese and European ceramics, clocks, furniture and, on the ground floor, Greek and Roman artefacts.
The bulk of the collection, along with the 18th-century villa home, was donated to the city in the 1920s by aristocratic counts Alfredo and Pompeo Correale. Do wander around the gardens with their breathtaking coastal views and rare plants and flowers.
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Museo Bottega della Tarsia Lignea
Since the 18th century, Sorrento has been famous for its intarsio furniture, made with elaborately designed inlaid wood. Some wonderful examples can be found in this museum, housed in an 18th-century palace, complete with beautiful frescoes.
There’s also an interesting collection of paintings, prints and photographs depicting the town and surrounding area in the 19th century. If you’re interested in purchasing a new intarsio piece, visit Gargiulo & Jannuzzi, one of the longest-established specialist shops in town, and they are happy to ship.
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Villa Comunale Park
This lushly landscaped park has stunning views across the Bay of Naples, including to Mt Vesuvius. A popular green space to while away the sunset hours, it’s a lively spot, with benches, operatic buskers and a small bar.
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Sedile Dominava
Incongruously wedged between racks of lemon-themed souvenir merchandise, this 15th-century domed palazzo has exquisite, albeit faded, original frescoes. Crowned by a cupola, the terrace, open to the street on two sides, was originally a meeting point for the town’s medieval aristocracy; today it houses a workingmen’s club where local pensioners sit around playing cards, providing a not-to-be-missed photo opportunity.
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Marina Grande
The closest thing to a spiaggia (beach) is the pleasant sandy stretch at the harbour at Marina Grande; if you want to just loll in the sun, nearby jetties sport the ubiquitous umbrellas and deckchairs. While it’s far smaller than the island of Procida in the Bay of Naples, this former fishing district has a glimmer of similarity with its pastel-coloured houses, brightly painted boats and fishermen mending nets.
There are some earthy seafood restaurants here as well, serving fish from the morning’s catch.
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Il Vallone dei Mulino
Just behind Piazza Tasso, a stunning natural phenomenon is on view from Via Fuorimura. This deep cleft in the mountain dates from a volcanic eruption 35,000 years ago. Sorrento was once bounded by three gorges, but today this is the only one that remains. It is named after the ancient wheat mills that were once located here, the ruins of which are still clearly visible.
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Centro Storico
The bustling old town centres on this street; it's a major hub for shops, restaurants and bars, but duck into the side streets and you will find narrow lanes flanked by traditional green-shuttered buildings, interspersed with the occasional palazzo, piazza or church. Souvenir shops, trattorias and some fine old buildings also jostle for space in this tangle of cobbled backstreets.
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Basilica di Sant’Antonino
Named after the patron saint of Sorrento, the oldest church in town dates from the 11th century. A few Roman artefacts have ended up here, as well as some dark medieval paintings and the oddity of two whale ribs. Apparently, the much-loved saint performed numerous miracles, including one in which he rescued a child from a whale’s stomach. The saint’s bones lie beneath the baroque interior in an 18th-century crypt.
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