In the coastal town of Sorrento, in southwestern Italy, facing the Bay of Naples on the Sorrentine Peninsula

 “Open my heart and you will see

Graved inside of it, 'Italy.'”
– Robert Browning
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(in a town overlooking the Bay of Naples in southern Italy) Sorrento is small but delightful. The main activities revolve around coastal life: diving, fishing, boat cruises, and the Marina Grande, which is full of luxe yachts and amazing seafood restaurants. Piazza Tasso, the lively town square with quaint cafes and mom-and-pop shops. Don’t bypass the 14th-century Church of San Francesco Villa or Communale Park’s pristine public gardens with views of the Bay of Naples. (Note for liqueur lovers: Sorrento is the birthplace of Limoncello, so do not leave without sipping one or two.)

+ Sorento started as trading post in the Middle Ages. Today, the popular tourist destination can be reached easily from Naples and Pompeii, making it a great starting point for those exploring the cities along the Amalfi Coast. Visitors can take a trip back to the 15th century at the Sedil Dominova, a domed building that was once a meeting place for nobles. Today, it is adorned with trompe l'oeil frescoes and serves as a popular spot to sit and drink espresso. The Piazza Tasso (or center of town) is named after the poet Torquato Tasso. Today, Piazza Tasso remains a gateway to the Old Town. The town is also widely known for its small ceramics, lacework, and marquetry (woodwork) shops. The Sorrentine Peninsula has views of Naples, Vesuvius, and the Isle of Capri. The Amalfi Drive, connecting Sorrento and Amalfi, is a narrow road along the high cliffs above the Tyrrhenian Sea.

+ The Roman name for Sorrento was Surrentum. From the 8th century BCE, the area had the presence of a community of indigenous villages, which was a crossing point for Etruscan traffic. Subsequently, the area fell into the hands of the Osci, who exercised an important influence here; indeed the oldest ruins of Surrentum are Oscan, dating from about 600 BCE.

+ An inscription shows that Titus in the year after the earthquake of 79 BCE restored the horologium (clock) of the town and its architectural decoration. The most important temples of Surrentum were those of Athena and of the Sirens (the latter the only one in the Greek world in historic times); the former gave its name to the promontory. In antiquity, Surrentum was famous for its wine, oranges, and lemons (which are now widely cultivated here.)

+ In the pre-Roman age, Sorrento was influenced by the Greek civilization: this can be seen in the presence of the Athenaion, a great sanctuary, also, according to the legend, founded by Ulysses and originally devoted to the cult of the Sirens, hence Sorrento's name.

+ Sorrento became an archbishopric around 420 CE. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire. the economy of Sorrento improved markedly, favored by the development of agriculture, tourism and trade. In 1861 Sorrento was officially annexed to the new Kingdom of Italy. In the following years it became one of the most renowned tourist destinations in Italy.