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Tumbling down a cliffside in a palette of bright hues, Sorrento is a popular and long-standing resort town with a charming historic heart, atmospheric ruins and a bustling port. The town looks out over the Bay of Naples and is known for its high quality ceramics, lace and marquetry, and its delicious Sorrentine lemons. It's also a very convenient coastal base with easy access to major local destinations. You can drive or get a boat to Positano on the Amalfi Coast, a ferry or hydrofoil to Capri or set off to explore the ruins of Pompeii. Unfortunately, it does get extremely busy in the summer months.

Sorrento makes a convenient base for exploring the Amalfi Coast. Its piazzas are great for morning coffee and people watching. Many properties sit on the cliff edge, with sweeping views over the Bay of Naples.

Things to see and do in Sorrento

Piazza Tasso and the old town

The heart of Sorrento is a warren of little streets flanked by numerous churches, beautifully restored 19th-century townhouses and palaces, and quaint trattorias. At its heart is Piazza Tasso, a hub of activity with many lively bars and restaurants lorded over by the elegant Palazzo Correale with its beautiful majolica courtyard. From here you can veer off and explore the narrow alleyways now lined with cafés and boutiques selling local produce, such as limoncello and linen clothing. Don't miss the 14th-century Church of San Francesco, one of Sorrento's most beautiful, with its tranquil cloister showcasing a variety of architectural styles.

Take a boat to Capri Island

The chic and wonderfully scenic island of Capri is just a 45-minute hydrofoil ride from Sorrento. A popular destination for celebrities, politicians and the wealthy for centuries, Capri is a decidedly glamorous spot and the best place to soak up the atmosphere is with a coffee or an ice cream under the clock tower on the bustling central square or Piazzetta. From here you can wander the narrow streets, enjoy some shopping in the designer boutiques, take in the spectacular views from the Augustus Gardens, go on a coastal hike, or simply sit and have a long lunch in the sunshine.

Uncover the archaeological wonders of Pompeii

The ancient Roman city of Pompeii, one of Italy’s most renowned attractions, is less than an hour’s drive from Sorrento. Devastated by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the entire city was covered in 6 m (19.6 feet) of ash, which perfectly preserved the buildings and their remarkable mosaics and frescoes. You can explore numerous grand houses with elaborate decorative details, the main forum with its civic buildings, as well as shops and public baths, all of which display extraordinary fragments of the daily life of those who were unfortunate enough to have lived here at the time.

The ruins in the Valley of the Mills

A short walk from Sorrento's Piazza Tasso, but a world away in atmosphere is the Valley of the Mills, a deep natural ravine blanketed in lush vegetation. Nestled at the bottom is the ruin of Sorrento’s old flour mill, a largely medieval structure, though some elements show the site was in use in Roman times. Standing on street level, you get a perfect view of this beautiful, otherworldly structure now completely overgrown with moss and ferns. The mill supplied flour to Naples until the early 20th century and looks even more magical at night when it is illuminated by spotlights.