Welcome to your cruise port of the day – Sorrento, Italy. You are going to love your day along this wonderful little coastal town on the Amalfi Coast. The sheer beauty of this beautiful town nestled into the mountains overlooking all that blue water is enough to take your breath away.
Sorrento, the Naples Province town overlooking the Bay of Naples and Vesuvius, takes its name from the Greek word Sorrento meaning leap or jump. The story goes that Hercules had to jump over Sorrento to reach nearby Pozzuoli from his home on Mt. Olympus, where he was living with other Gods in Ancient Greece. This might be an urban legend, but it has given Sorrento its present-day nickname: La Città dello Salto, the city of the jump.
Breakfast at Da Lucia
Start your morning with a hearty breakfast at Da Lucia. The restaurant is a local favorite and features fresh squeezed juices, fresh fruit, yogurt, and pastries. For something more indulgent order one of their Eggs Benedict dishes or a heartier entree like the omelet with ham and cheese. This Italian staple will give you energy to explore all that Sorrento has to offer today!
Shopping on Via Roma
While you’re walking around town, take a detour down Via Roma, an avenue that leads to one of Sorrento’s most popular spots: Piazza Tasso. This large, charming square is named after an Italian poet and has outdoor cafes, street musicians and lots of hustle and bustle as people walk through. Take a break at one of these cafes with some gelato while admiring some of Europe’s best architecture.
Lunch at Agli Orti di Diana
For a classic and affordable Italian meal, go to Agli Orti di Diana. Here you’ll enjoy handmade pastas, home-cooked meals, simple but elegant flavors and picturesque views of Mount Vesuvius at sunset. Be sure to reserve your table ahead of time; tourists pack into Agli Orti di Diana for dinner.
Dinner at Osteria Nuova Machiavelli
Whether you’re with a romantic partner or looking to make new friends, there are few places better than Osteria Nuova Machiavelli. It is by far one of the most elegant restaurants in town and offers amazing food. The food here is mouthwatering. Be sure to order what they’re best known for: sea bass served with parsley and lemon zest mashed potatoes. Oh yeah, you’ll need some wine to go along with that meal as well!
Other Sorrento Activities
The center of town is the Piazza Tasso. The streets of the square are lined with wonderful little restaurants, cafes, and shops. There are art stores, high quality stores and all sorts of unusual places to do your window shopping. Right in the center of the square is the Baroque Church del Carmine. You must visit the Basilica di Sant’Antonino. It is well known for the beautiful art work, architecture and views. Also don’t forget to take a couple of minutes out to visit Il Vallone dei Mulini. It’s a little peek into Sorrento’s past and well worth seeing.
Sorrento Chocolate Anyone?
Limonoro is a well known chocolate shop you have to visit. They have mastered the craft of candy making and baking, filling their lovely confections with Limoncello. I Giardini di Cataldo is another wonderful artisan spot with their beautiful vineyards, and wonderful treats made from the Sorrento lemon, turned into Limoncello.
Since Sorrento is a coastal town, there are many things to do on the peninsula that don’t involve shopping, restaurants or visiting lovely old basilicas. There are a number of tours to take which will take you to the docks, the hiking trails and camping sites.
I think the most important thing to see in this part of the world is Mount Vesuvius. All along the Amalfi Coast you are walking in the shadow of Vesuvius and the arc of mountains which make up the Amalfi Coast’s Camparian volcanic arc.
