Sorrento Coast Tourism Ramps Up After Lonely Pandemic Break

The Territory

The Amalfi Coast, a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO in 1997, starts from Punta Campanella and develops along the south coast of the Sorrento Peninsula until it reaches Vietri sul Mare. It is located about 50 kilometers south of Naples, north of the Cilento coast. At the eastern end is the city of Salerno.

sorrento CITRUS | eTurboNews | eTN
Giant citrus of Sorrento – Photo © Mario Masciullo

Sorrento sits on a tuff cliff overlooking the sea, an area also suitable for trekking with a wonderful view of the Gulf of Naples. The city of Sorrento has a historic center made up of small streets crowded with shops selling typical products as well as bars and restaurants. On one side is a crystalline sea, and on the other, green hills and citrus trees. Capri, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Vesuvius and Ischia are a few kilometers away, all providing a mild climate all year round and excellent local cuisine.

sorrento ISLAND | eTurboNews | eTN
The dolphin-shaped island that belonged to Rudolf Nureyev – Photo © Mario Masciullo

Hints of History

The iconic Russian dancer, Rudolph Nureyev, did not make it to see his project come true: a school of dance on the island.

Seen from above, the island looks like a dolphin. In reality, it is Li Galli, a very small archipelago made up of 3 islets that overlook Capri and Positano. The archipelago is also known as La Sireneuse where, according to legend, it was once inhabited by sirens who charmed the sailors in transit with their song. According to mythology, only 2 ships survived being shipwrecked against the rocks – that of Ulysses whose story is told in Homer’s Odyssey and that of the Argonauts who were saved thanks to Orpheus.

Other Historical Guests

In the native town of Torquato Tasso, Sorrento, the poets Byron and Shelley; Henrik Ibsen, who wrote his comedy Ghosts; Mark Twain; and James Fenimore Cooper stayed at the destination which today welcomes such celebrities such as the Russian tycoon, Roman Abramovich; the 007 movie actor, Pierce Brosnan; actor Richard Wagner, Fredrich Nietzche; Charles Dickens, Maxim Gorky and many more. Giacomo Casanova visited Sorrento, but this was before the invention of photography.

In the 1870s, the Tsarina of Russia, Maria Alexandrovna, with a following of 200 people, stayed in Sorrento for just over 6 weeks.

In its history, the coast was lined with magnificent villas of ancient Roman aristocrats and wealthy characters. Some were members of the court of Emperor Tiberius who, in his later years, ruled from Capri. The remains of the villa of the adopted son of Emperor Augustus are located under the Bellevue Syrene hotel in Sorrento.

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Centuries old remains of Regina Giovanna residence – Photo © Mario Masciullo

The most visited archaeological find today is that of Queen Giovanna in the area called Baths of Queen Giovanna. It is a site full of magical stories and charm. From Capo di Sorrento, there is a path in the shade of vines and orange trees that leads on a slope towards the sea to the Baths of Queen Giovanna. Visitors have a view of rare beauty – a large natural basin connected to the sea by a narrow crack between the rocks.

The space on the promontory is occupied by the remains of a majestic Roman villa, built at the time of Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD) and belonging to Pollio Felice.According to the legend, Queen Giovanna II Durazzo d’Angiò often stayed here with a lover on duty. These ruins are the most fascinating of the Sorrento Peninsula and were discovered in 1624 by Giovanni Vinaccia.

No other villa from this period has been described in detail like this one in the verses sung by Publio Papinio Stazio Napoli Poet, (circa 45-96). Like other seaside villas of the Roman era, it has a landing place and a “murenarium” for the breeding of fish and a nymphaeum. From the villa, there is a passage on the rocks from where it is possible to swim in crystal clear waters.

sorrento HIKING | eTurboNews | eTN
Trekking on the Sorrento Coast – Photo © Mario Masciullo

Beyond Sorrento

The Circumvesuviana railway (Sorrento-Naples) stops both in Pompeii and at another notable archaeological site in Herculaneum. Pompeii is closer to Sorrento than Naples, and Herculaneum is about halfway, but these are Italy destinations to be storied for another day.

About the author

Avatar of Mario Masciullo - eTN Italy

Mario Masciullo - eTN Italy

Mario is a veteran in the travel industry.
His experience extends worldwide since 1960 when at the age of 21 he started exploring Japan, Hong Kong, and Thailand.
Mario has seen the World Tourism develop up to date and witnessed the
destruction of the root/testimony of the past of a good number of countries in favor of modernity/progress.
During the last 20 years Mario's travel experience has concentrated in South East Asia and of late included the Indian Sub Continent.

Part of Mario's work experience includes multi activities in the Civil Aviation
field concluded after organizing the kik off of for Malaysia Singapore Airlines in Italy as an Institutor and continued for 16 years in the role of Sales /Marketing Manager Italy for Singapore Airlines after the split of the two governments in October 1972.

Mario's official Journalist license is by the "National Order of Journalists Rome, Italy in 1977.

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