Italy – Sorrento (En)

Sorrento Sorrento is a coastal town in southwestern Italy, facing the Bay of Naples on the Sorrentine Peninsula. Perched atop cliffs that separate the city from its busy marinas, it’s known for sweeping water views and Piazza Tasso, a cafe-lined square.

We stayed at the only camping we could go with our 8 metres motorhome, Camping Campogaio Santafortunata (40.627602, 14.3577 lat, long), which we reserved in April. The camping is really expensive, around 70 euros per day, but the only one in the area. Too expensive for what it is, the facilities are ok but depending on where your plot is can be very far. It has a swimming pool where we have to go on the motorbike and a mini market which was ok but expensive. The restaurant is only open from 6 pm to 10 pm and the camping is infected with tiny ants. The good thing is that it has a shuttle to the town centre for 1.50 euros and amazing coastal views.

We went to see the town in the shuttle. Sorrento is known for the song «Caruso» by Lucio Dalla and for being the home of the great Torquato Tasso. The old town of Sorrento is a concentration of narrow pedestrian streets full of shops, bars, ice cream parlours, artisans and many tourists, where the 14th-century church of San Francesco is located. We went to the famous Tasso Square where there are incredible views of the descent to the sea and the Romanesque Sorrento Cathedral rebuilt in the 15th century.

Next, we went to see the Vallone which owes its name to the ruins of a mill used at the beginning of the 20th century to grind wheat. The formation of this deep fissure dates back 35.000 years. And from there we went to the Villa Comunale adjacent to the cloister of St Francesco. It is a small, cosy park with impressive views of the sea and the marina. Built between 1877 and 1879, the villa stands on the gardens of the Franciscan friars. Inside the park, there are two busts from the beginning of the 20th century and a museum with the findings of the archaeological excavations found in Sorrento.

Then we wandered through the old town until we met up with Ben’s friends, as we were going to Ben’s cousin’s wedding the next day.

The next day we were at Joe and Joanne’s wedding, where I met many of Ben’s friends and family. It was a lovely wedding where we had a great time and Asha had an amazing day playing with the children.

On our last day in Sorrento, we went to Marina Grande which is accessed through a narrow cobbled path and crossing the ancient Greek gate. On our way, we saw an exhibition of woodwork. Marina Grande retains the charm of the fishing village it once was, with its colourful houses, boats and nets thrown on the shore. Where we met with the newly married and Ben’s friends to say goodbye.

Thus ended our stay in Sorrento and we went to Parma, a university city, famed for its Parmesan cheese, Parma ham and Romanesque buildings. Which you can see in the next blog.