Italy hotel booking - filcoo Italy hotels, hotel Italy, bed and breakfast Italy, bed&breakfast Italy, b&b Italy, Italy travel guide

Italy bed&breakfast and hotels: Reserve your accomodation online

Home

Edit & Cancel booking

Support

Italy Hotels

Italy Travel Guide

Home > Italy Travel Guide > Sorrento Travel Guide

Sorrento Travel Guide

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Introduction
Arrival
Transport
History and culture

ATTRACTIONS

Churches and Museums
Historical buildings and monuments

ENTERTAINMENT

Events

USEFUL LINKS

Links

Introduction

Sorrento lines the cliffs that look over the water to Naples and Mt Vesuvius. According to Greek legend, it was here that the Sirens, those mythical provocateurs of pure voice and dodgy intent, lurked, trying to lure Homer's Ulysses and his men.

Arrival

At least 12 SITA buses run daily between Sorrento and Amalfi, looping around Positano; more than 10 buses also run to Ravello. Buses leave from outside the Circumvesuviana train station. Trains run to/from Naples via Pompeii and Ercolano. Hydrofoils leave to/from Sorrento and to/from Naples. All depart from the port at Marina Piccola, where you can buy your tickets.

By train:

Circumvesuviana trains run to/from Naples via Pompeii and Ercolano. From Naples trains can be caught to many destinations across Italy and Europe.

By bus:

SITA buses serve the Amalfi Coast, Naples and Sant'Agata, leaving from outside the Circumvesuviana train station. Buy tickets at the station bar or from shops bearing the blue SITA sign. There are many buses each day between Sorrento and Amalfi, looping around Positano.

By plane:

Naples Capodichino Airport offers connections to all Italian cities and major European destinations with traditional or low-cost airline companies. From the Arrival area of the Airport there is a daily bus service to Sorrento provided by Curreri. The nearest Intercontinental Airport is Rome's Fiumicino, with the possibility of getting to Naples by air besides the train.

By sea:

From Naples Beverello Wharf, the pier in front of Castel Nuovo, many hydrofoil and ferries depart for Sorrento; the hydrofoils (aliscafi) are twice as fast as the ferries and the service is usually more frequent in summer. From Beverello Wharf, during May to October, there are two daily runs to Amalfi with Metrò del Mare.

By car:

To Sorrento those coming from Rome or from the north must take highway A1 up to Naples, continue on A3 towards Salerno, exit at Castellamare and continue on state highway 145 up to Sorrento. Coming from the south, travel on A3 just after Salerno, exit at Castellamare and continue on state highway 145.

Transport

There is a bus service from Piazza Tasso to the port at Marina Piccola. Tickets are available at tobacconists, newsagents and bars. Several rental companies hire out scooters and cars. Taxis are also available.

History and Culture

Ancient Sorrento's foggy origins have Phoenician and Greek fingerprints scattered faintly around the crime scene right up to the first solid sandal prints which leave no doubts about a Roman stay. Throughout their time Sorrento's reputation as a popular seaside resort increasing exponentially as villa after villa sprung up, elbow to elbow with lovely sea views. The only hiccup was the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, which caused plenty of damage in town, though not in comparison to Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabia, which were completely destroyed.

The city, once named Surrentum after the often quoted story of the sexy sea sirens who would entice sailors to an early exit with their gyrations and enchanting songs, found itself slave to many masters long before more famous cities were even thought of. When Rome fell over the Goths moved in, followed by the Longobards, who spent a long time hanging around laying an ultimately unsuccessful siege to the well defended city. In 552 the Byzantines rolled through and made merry until a variety of local chest thumpers sent them packing and turned the area into a Dukedom, subject to Saracen raids and battles between whoever could raise an army and find someone to fight. The Normans under Ruggero stopped all that rot in 1133, binding the town's fate to that of Naples and the greater area. Turkish pirates took their turn in 1158, looting the town after a naughty slave opened the front gates and let them in. The citizens by this time were well fed up with all the skulduggery and decided to throw up some nice big walls and keep a better eye on the slaves in the hope of keeping future plunderers outside the door.

From then on into the 19th century Sorrento grew and grew as a holiday resort. It even started attracting well-to-do's like Lord Byron and Goethe. Soon other chaps followed and the honour roll of those who have enjoyed the delights of Sorrento - John Keats, Walter Scott, Wagner and Nietzsche among them - would make any dinner party interesting.

Modern History

Sorrento seemed to dodge much of the upheaval taking place across Europe in the 20th century. The Amalfi coast including Sorrento was used as an R&R centre by Allied troops stationed in the Middle East and Italy during WW2. Noted guests continued to flock to the resort - Gustav of Sweden, Fernando of Bulgaria, even Ronald Reagan. The real boom along with tourism was the growth of citrus product, especially lemons, along the Costa Amalfitana, sparking a postcard and tea-towel bonanza through town featuring all manner of lemon and lemon-related images under Sorrento's proud name.

Churches and Museums

Basilica di San Antonino
This basilica was built around the 10th century in honor of Saint Anthony, patron saint of navigators, and in c.1300 it became the home of the "Confraternita dei Battenti", an heretical confraternity originating from Naples. It was splendidly restored in the C17th by the Theatine Fathers. The crypt holds the tomb of Saint Anthony, where thousands of votive offerings have been made by sailors.
Related Articles: Basilica di San Antonino Guide

Saint Francis Cloisters
The Saint Francis Cloisters have been restored on numerous occasions over the centuries and hence display a distinctive array of architectural styles that range from late gothic to renaissance, while the refectory retains its original fourteenth century structure.
Related Articles: Saint Francis Cloisters Guide

Museo Correale
Within the 18th–century Palazzo Correale, which has some interesting murals, is the Museo Correale, containing a small collection of 17th– and 18th-century Neapolitan art and an assortment of Greek and Roman artefacts. Steps lead down to the shore while the gardens offer views of the bay.
Related Articles: Museo Correale Guide

Historical buildings and monuments

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.
Related Articles: Cathedral Guide

Sedil Dominova
A unique testimony to the ancient "sedile", which was the building in which the city fathers gathered to make laws and decide on economic and administrative matters. A magnificent majolica-tiled dome covers the arcaded loggia of the Sedil Dominova.
Related Articles: Sedil Dominova Guide

Events

Sorrento Summer of Music - from July to September.
The "Sorrento Summer of Music" Festival takes place every year in the cloisters of the monastery of Saint Francis in Sorrento, and its honorary President is the famous cellist Uto Ughi. Against the attractive backdrop of the Saint Francis cloisters, great names from the international music scene perform alongside emerging talent throughout the summer. Plenty of classical music and chamber music, but also jazz and other genres.

Incontri Internazionali del Cinema di Sorrento - December
Sorrento's International Cinema Festival first began in 1963, and every year awards are presented to the best of Italian and foreign features and shorts.

Links

Circumvesuviana

Transport

Aeroporto Internazionale di Napoli

Transport

SNAV

Transport

Caremar

Transport

N.L.G Navigazione Libera del Golfo

Transport

Alilauro

Transport

Hotels in Sorrento
Mami Camilla Single room - From 30€ Twin double Standa - From 38€ Triple room - From 70€ Visit hotel page
Villa Pollio Double room - From 60€ Triple room - From 75€ Quadruple room - From 90€ Visit hotel page
Casa Stefanie Apartment - From 100€ Visit hotel page
Casa Susy Room Amalfi - From 60€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Villa Margherita camera dus - From 49€ Double room - From 69€ Triple room - From 99€ Visit hotel page
Casa Mazzola Twin room - From 50€ Triple room - From 75€ Quadruple room - From 110€ Visit hotel page
Il Mirto Bianco Single room - From 49€ Twin room - From 59€ Triple room - From 69€ Visit hotel page
Casale Villarena Villa La Garofanel - From 180€ Visit hotel page
Relais Regina Giovanna deluxe room - From 110€ Visit hotel page
Johanna Park Hotel Single room - From 50€ Double room - From 65€ Triple room - From 72€ Visit hotel page
Grand Hotel Flora Single room - From 70€ Twin room - From 95€ Triple room - From 110€ Visit hotel page
Punta Campanella Resort & SPA Superior Vista mar - From 135€ Triple room - From 175€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Savoia Single room - From 65€ Double room - From 80€ Triple room - From 100€ Visit hotel page
Albergo Nice Single room - From 50€ Twin room - From 65€ Triple room - From 85€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Parco Dei Principi Superior Vista mar - From 170€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Angelina Single room - From 50€ Double room - From 70€ Triple room - From 80€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Gran Paradiso Doppia Vista Golfo - From 120€ Triple Vista Mare - From 150€ Visit hotel page
Residence Tasso Apartment - From 55€ Quadruple room - From 80€ Visit hotel page
Casale Antonietta Triple room - From 95€ Apartment - From 80€ Visit hotel page
Relais Von Gunderrode Apartment "La Palm - From 80€ Apartment "Il Pino - From 120€ Apartment "Il Golf - From 300€ Visit hotel page
Villa Oriana Relais Junior suite - From 100€ Junior suite tripl - From 115€ Junior suite quadr - From 130€ Visit hotel page
Best Western La Solara Standard Balcony - From 105€ Visit hotel page
Villaggio Santa Fortunata Campogaio Bungalows - From 60€ Bungalow 3 - From 70€ Bungalow 4 people - From 90€ Visit hotel page
Nido Degli Dei Double room - From 60€ Triple room - From 80€ Quadruple room - From 120€ Visit hotel page
Antico Parco del Principe Single room - From 59€ Double room - From 69€ Triple room - From 89€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Residence Le Terrazze Double room - From 60€ Triple room - From 90€ Quadruple room - From 110€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Villa Gerardo Twin room - From 60€ Triple room - From 70€ Quadruple room - From 80€ Visit hotel page
Olga's Residence Relais Quadruple room - From 150€ Apartment - From 80€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Club Single room - From 40€ Twin room - From 60€ Triple room - From 80€ Visit hotel page
Villa Elisa Twin room - From 80€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Baia Di Puolo DOUBLE WITH SEA VI - From 120€ Visit hotel page
Corallo Hotel Single room - From 110€ Double Room Sea Vi - From 150€ Triple room - From 180€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Villa Fiorita Double Sea view - From 68€ Triple Sea View - From 90€ Quadruple room Sea - From 110€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Eliseo Park' s Single room - From 70€ Double room - From 80€ Triple room - From 120€ Visit hotel page
Villaggio Residence Nettuno Double room - From 55€ Triple room - From 60€ Quadrupla - 2 room - From 70€ Visit hotel page
Hotel La Pergola Double room - From 65€ Triple room - From 80€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Cavour Single room - From 55€ Twin room - From 80€ Visit hotel page
Relais Francesca Twin room - From 60€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Mediterraneo Superior Suite - From 168€ Visit hotel page
Villa Jacono Double room - From 120€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Sorrento City Twin room - From 70€ Quadruple room - From 110€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Delfino Superior Sea View - From 109€ Visit hotel page
Hotel La Meridiana Single room - From 54€ Double room - From 59€ Triple room - From 94€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Majestic Palace Single room - From 80€ Double room - From 94€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Residence Miramare Camera standard - From 110€ Camera superior - From 140€ Appartamento biloc - From 170€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Antiche Mura Double room - From 109€ Visit hotel page
La Magnolia Double room - From 70€ Visit hotel page
Villino Castellano Twin room - From 66€ Visit hotel page
Sorrento Town Suites Single room - From 50€ Twin room - From 60€ Triple room - From 75€ Visit hotel page
La Cartolina Residence Double room - From 75€ Superior Suite - From 85€ Visit hotel page
Esperidi Resort doppia standard - From 50€ Visit hotel page
Blurooms Twin room - From 96€ Visit hotel page
Domus Porto Salvo Standard Single - From 65€ Double with shared - From 50€ Standard Triple - From 90€ Visit hotel page
Villa Cafiero Twin room - From 120€ Visit hotel page
Villa Nevada Twin room - From 150€ Visit hotel page
Ville Vielle Double room - From 65€ Visit hotel page
Villino Antonino Double room - From 60€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Britannia Single room - From 50€ Twin room - From 60€ Triple room - From 75€ Visit hotel page
Villa Persico Rustica - From 60€ Visit hotel page
Casa Correale Double room - From 80€ Triple room - From 110€ Quadruple room - From 120€ Visit hotel page
Villaggio Verde Double room - From 70€ Apartment - From 120€ Visit hotel page
Sorrento Flats Single room - From 50€ Double room - From 70€ Quadruple room - From 120€ Visit hotel page
Relais Diana Single room - From 39€ Junior Suite - From 73€ Triple room - From 63€ Visit hotel page
Hotel La Primavera Double Superior - From 89€ Visit hotel page
Hostel Sorrento Doppia bagno in co - From 50€ Tripla bagno in co - From 60€ Quadrupla bagno in - From 60€ Visit hotel page
Green Paradise Double room - From 60€ Visit hotel page
Domus San Vincenzo Single room - From 60€ Double room - From 60€ Triple room - From 75€ Visit hotel page
Chalet Paradiso Double room - From 65€ Apartment - From 85€ Visit hotel page
Relais Amore Single room - From 40€ Superior Suite - From 88€ Triple room - From 110€ Visit hotel page
La Nuit Single room - From 60€ Suite - From 90€ Triple room - From 100€ Visit hotel page
Relais Villa Chiara Double Room - From 100€ Visit hotel page
Sorrento Babyluna Double room - From 55€ Visit hotel page
Relais Vittoria Camera ExtraLusso - From 180€ Visit hotel page
Ostello le Sirene dormitorio uomini - From 18€ Twin room - From 55€ Visit hotel page
Residence Casale Nunziatina Suite - From 62€ Deluxe Suite - From 73€ Superior Suite - From 73€ Visit hotel page
Hotel Conca Park Suite - From 699€ Visit hotel page
Residence L'Incanto Apartment - From 55€ Apartment - From 70€ Apartment - From 100€ Visit hotel page
Villa Rosa Double room - From 80€ Visit hotel page
Atlantic Palace Single room - From 65€ Double Room Garden - From 70€ Visit hotel page