Things to Do in Sorrento

Positano’s photogenic cascade of pastel-hued houses is striking, but one of the most remarkable details is the colorful tiled dome of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta). Lovely from the outside, the church is also an architectural delight within, and home to a 12th-century Byzantine-style icon of a Black Madonna and Child.

Near the waterfront at the foot of town, the beautiful Church of Santa Maria Assunta is Positano’s most recognizable landmark. The church’s brightly painted majolica dome and soaring bell tower catch the eye for miles around, but it’s also worth a peek inside to see the grand archways, elaborate classical decoration, and the Byzantine icon from which Positano is said to have gotten its name. Beneath the church are the ruins of a Roman villa dating from the second century BC.

The church, one of the main attractions in Positano, is included in small-group Positano tours or Sorrento shore excursions to the Amalfi Coast. In addition to Positano, Amalfi Coast tours include stops in Amalfi and Ravello. 

The Church of Santa Maria Assunta is located in the pedestrian-only center of Positano, along Italy's famed Amalfi Coast. You can reach the coast by ferry from Naples in the summer or by bus from Sorrento year-round. The more courageous can drive along the beautiful coastal highway.

The Amalfi Coast—especially its main towns of Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello—get incredibly crowded during the summer, so it’s best to explore the sights along this stretch of coastline in the spring and fall.

According to legend, Positano’s Black Madonna and Child was on a ship skirting the Italian coast when sailors heard the figure of Mary depicted on the icon saying, “Posa!” (“Put me down!”). The icon has been in Positano ever since, and the town’s name can be traced back to that legend.

According to folklore, sirens once inhabited this small group of islands known as Sirenuse. But today, it’s intrepid travelers who find their way through the placid waters and scenic coastal landscapes to the three major land masses of this archipelago: La Castelluccia, Gallo Lungo and La Rotonda. 

Gallo Lungo is one of Li Galli’s most popular destinations, thanks to historical roots as a home to a monastery, and later a prison. In the mid-1990s, it became privately owned by Giovanni Russo and today, offers deluxe accommodations to travelers able to afford the steep price tag. Luckily the quiet waters that surround this iconic island are open to the public, which means even visitors who will never set foot on the shores are able to at least catch a glimpse of Gallo Lungo during a swim.

The most important church in Sorrento, the Basilica di Sant’Antonino is dedicated to the town’s patron saint. Visit the church during a walking tour of the city to view the sumptuous interiors, St. Antonius’s crypt, and votive offerings of sailors who survived shipwrecks thanks to the intervention of this saint, the patron of rescues. 

The original Basilica di Sant’Antonino was built in the 11th century, but numerous changes have been made over the centuries, including the addition of a baroque interior and Renaissance facade and belltower. 

The best way to visit the church and explore Sorrento’s other top attractions is by joining a small-group walking tour. Wander the picturesque lanes lined with artisan workshops and boutiques and visit the Basilica di Sant’Antonino as well as the Church of San Francesco, Corso Italia, and Piazza Tasso. Sorrento is also a popular day-trip destination from Naples and the Amalfi Coast.

 

The Basilica di Sant’Antonino is located along the main street, Corso Italia, in the center of Sorrento. From Marina Piccola, you can either walk up the hill or take a local bus or taxi. The city's transport hub is Piazza Tasso, just a short walk from the basilica, where buses connect to the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii and Herculaneum, and Naples.

 

The Basilica di Sant’Antonino is particularly interesting to visit on February 14, when the town celebrates the saint’s feast day with religious services and processions. The church also offers a cool respite from southern Italy’s midday heat in the summer.

 

Most statues of St. Antonius depict him standing on a sea creature, representing his rescue of a child who had been swallowed by a whale; the two whalebones displayed in the church are said to come from this very creature. Another legend says that the Archangel Michael appeared to Antonino and told him to build a church in Sorrento. In the 11th century, this ancient chapel was replaced with the current basilica, though St. Antonius’s crypt inside was rebuilt in the 18th century.

Watching the “Sorrento Musical” at the Teatro Tasso can be a fun way to learn about Italian culture through a performance of traditional dances and songs.

The Teatro Tasso theater is located inside a former convent, and in the 1920s the space was used as a cinema. It was later the venue for opera performances, and today seats 500 people for its popular “Sorrento Musical” shows. The upper gallery level of the theater accommodates about 150 seats with tables set up so people can enjoy dinner during the show.

The “Sorrento Musical” is a 2-hour production (there is a 10-minute intermission) featuring traditional songs, dances, and costumes from the Sorrentine Peninsula and other parts of nearby southern Italy. You’ll hear familiar songs such as “O Sole Mio” and see the famous Tarantella dance performed. Audience members can get in on the fun, too, by joining the performers onstage to learn the Tarantella.

The audience has the option to arrive in time for a welcome drink just before the show begins, or - for a more complete evening - get to the theater earlier for dinner. Diners sit at the tables set up in the gallery of the theater and eat while musicians provide entertainment of guitar and mandolin music.

Sorrento’s Cloister of San Francesco is an oasis of tranquility steps away from the historic town’s bustling central piazza of Sant’Antonino. The cloister unites a religious complex of seventh-century monastery and a late-medieval church, both dedicated to St Francis of Assisi, and is a showpiece of various architectural styles from pre-Roman through Arabic to medieval. 

In the 14th century Franciscan friars from the monastery repurposed an ancient oratory into their church; it has some Baroque features and its simple white façade was rebuilt in 1926. Inside there are several richly decorated chapels adjoining the single nave and in 1992, a bronze statue of St Francis was placed outside the church; it is the work of Roman sculptor Alfiero Nena. 

But the cloister, built at the same time as the church, is the star turn here; its tranquil gardens are filled with bougainvillea and vines that climb over arched arcades, which are made of soft tufa stone and rubble pinched from earlier pagan temples. During the summer there are art exhibitions and concerts set to the stunning backdrop of the cloister and it is also one of Sorrento’s most popular venues for weddings. 

Always dress conservatively when visiting churches in Italy; shoulder and legs should be covered.

There is no better stretch of beach in Positano to take a dip or work on your tan than Spiaggia Grande, next to the Marina Grande port. At this well-provisioned beach you can rent a sun lounger and umbrella, stroll the beach walk, grab a meal at a beachfront restaurant, or hop on a ferry to other coastal destinations or the islands. 

Take a beach break at Spiaggia Grande before or after your small-group or private tour of the top attractions along the Amalfi Coast, including Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello. Day trips depart from Sorrento or Naples, often include a stop for lunch, and can also be combined with a tour of Pompeii.

 

Spiaggia Grande is the beach located adjacent to Marina Grande, Positano’s port. If arriving by ferry, the beach clubs are just steps away. If arriving by bus, walk downhill to the port and beach. 

 

Temperatures soar in southern Italy at midday during the summer months, so be cautious about sun exposure or hit the beach early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the worst of the heat. The beaches along the Amalfi Coast get very crowded on the weekends from June through September, so visit in spring or fall if possible.

 

If you fancy a slightly quieter but equally beautiful beach, take the pretty footpath overlooking the water from Spiaggia Grande to Fornillo beach. Though this stretch of sand is less crowded, there are still snack bars, restaurants, and a number of beach clubs renting chairs and umbrellas. 

Jutting out from the Sorrentine Peninsula into the Gulf of Naples is a rocky promontory known as the Punta del Capo, or the Capo di Sorrento. It’s located a little more than one mile west of central Sorrento.

One of the main attractions on the Punta del Capo is the ruin of a Roman villa, which is believed to have once belonged to Pollio Felice. There are ruins of three villas nearby, all dating to the 1st-3rd centuries AD. Felice was a supporter of both Virgil and Horace.

Nearby, you’ll find the Bagni della Regina Giovanna, a swimming area next to a flat, rocky area used for sunbathing, all of which are next to the remains of another Roman villa. This spot gets its name from Queen Giovanna of Anjou, who used to visit regularly in the 14th century to bathe.

Capo di Sorrento has a few shops and places to eat, but this area is much quieter than central Sorrento. It’s possible to walk from Sorrento, though the path along the Via Capo is uphill when heading out along the Punta del Capo. Boat tours from Sorrento to explore the Roman ruins and the Bagni della Regina Giovanna are quite popular.

Sorrento's tiny fishing village of Marina Grande is known for its colorful wooden boats bobbing in the harbor, and local fishermen still mend their nets by hand just steps from sunbathers along the beach. At the heart of Marina Grande is the Church of Sant'Anna, dedicated to the town's patron saint, and a shore lined with small, family-run restaurants serving fresh Mediterranean fish and seafood. 

Connected to the historic center of Sorrento by a stone staircase, Marina Grande is best explored on foot. Escape the crowds in central Sorrento for a few hours at a waterfront restaurant or on the volcanic sand beach. Located adjacent to bustling Marina Piccola where ferries and cruise ships dock, Marina Grande has a rustic charm that seems worlds away from the busy port next door.

From Piazza Vittoria in central Sorrento, walk along the lane that skirts Hotel Bellevue Syrene to the stairs that lead downhill to Marina Grande. Buses also connect Piazza Tasso in Sorrento with Marina Grande.

Italy's southern coastline is very crowded in summer, so visiting in the slower spring or fall months is strongly recommended. Visit the Church of Sant'Anna on the Sunday after her Saint's Day (July 26) to participate in the festivities with song, dance, and fireworks; on other nights of the year, the sunset over the water is festive enough.

The Marina Grande fishing village is adjacent to Sorrento's Marina Piccola, the main transportation hub for ferries to and from the Bay of Naples, the Amalfi Coast, the island of Capri, and other destinations in Campania. Take the ferry for a day trip to Capri to see the Faraglioni and the Blue Grotto; during the summer months, ferries also run to Positano and Amalfi, where you can catch a local bus up to Ravello. To visit Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii, take the Circumvesuviana train from the station in central Sorrento.

Tiny Ravello, an idyllic village along the Amalfi Coast, has a long history and vibrant cultural life. Founded by Romans in the sixth century, this picturesque clifftop town is today a haven for travelers drawn to its views, villas, and gardens. Home to Villa Rufolo, which has hosted luminaries from Richard Wagner to Jacqueline Kennedy, and Villa Cimbrone, known for its panoramic views, Ravello is an elegant respite from the crowds along the coast. 

Ravello is one of the few towns along the Amalfi Coast not set at sea level, so it must be reached by climbing a steep road up the cliffside. Given the heavy traffic that plagues the Amalfi Coast in summer, consider booking a Ravello tour and leave the hassle of navigating to a professional driver. The town has a number of historic villas and churches that are best appreciated with a tour guide, so join an all-day Amalfi Coast tour or shore excursion from Naples, Sorrento, or Salerno that includes Ravello. You can also take private tours to Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius (Mount Vesuvius), and other destinations in the surrounding region of Campania from here.

Ravello sits on the clifftop above the historic maritime republic of Amalfi and can only be reached by car or bus. No train line runs along the Amalfi Coast, so you must take the coastal bus from Salerno or Sorrento; alternatively, you can take the train from Rome or Naples to Sorrento, and then transfer to the bus. Ferries also run from Sorrento to Amalfi, where you can catch the bus to Ravello. Guided tours usually include round-trip transportation.

The Amalfi Coast is crowded in summer, while during winter, smaller villages like Ravello close up shop. The best times of the year to visit are spring and fall, when sights and restaurants are open but the crowds are smaller. If visiting between March and November, check out the calendar for the Ravello Concert Society's annual season of chamber music concerts.

The annual Ravello Festival is among Italy’s finest festivals and celebrates the music of one of Ravello’s greatest fans, German composer Richard Wagner. He was inspired by the architecture of Villa Rufolo when he stayed in Ravello in 1880.

The bustling port of Sorrento is a popular stop for cruise lines exploring Italy's southern coast of Campania. Sorrento, perched high on the clifftop above the Marina Piccola port below, is a charming resort town and destination in its own right, and also serves as a transportation hub and jumping-off point for excursions to the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Pompeii, and other destinations on the Bay of Naples.

Sorrento is a popular departure point for shore excursions by land or sea to the most famous towns along the Amalfi Coast—Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello. Shore excursions usually depart directly from Marina Piccola, though some may depart from Piazza Tasso in the center of Sorrento. Sorrento has an old town of picturesque lanes lined with artisan workshops and boutiques, historic churches such as the Basilica di Sant’Antonino and the Church of San Francesco, and shady piazzas crowded with outdoor cafe tables. Corso Italia is the main thoroughfare, home to stores selling everything from designer fashions to limoncello, the coast’s traditional lemon liqueur. At the foot of the zigzagging stone staircase down the cliffside, the tiny fishing village of Marina Grande is known for its excellent waterfront restaurants.

From Marina Piccolo, you can either walk up the hill to the center of Sorrento or take a local bus or taxi. The city's transport hub is in the main square—Piazza Tasso—where buses and trains depart for the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii and Herculaneum, and Naples.

Sorrento is a tender port, meaning it’s too shallow for ships to dock right next to the shore, so allow a little extra time getting to and from your cruise ship. Sorrento is a popular tourist destination and English is widely spoken. The currency is the euro.

Towering over the countryside of Campania in southern Italy, Faito Mountain (Monte Faito)—in the Lattari mountain range—overlooks the whole of the Sorrento Peninsula. Faito is a popular destination in summer, when its scenic trails offer a respite from the heat and crowds along the coastline.

Faito Mountain, named for the beech trees that blanket its slopes, offers some of the best hiking trails in the area. From its highest point, you can set off along a number of routes that lead past churches and ancient cisterns, and through spectacular beech and black pine forests, where it’s often possible to spot birds, butterflies, and small mammals in the wild. A road and cable car run up 3,711 feet (1,131 meters) to one of the highest peaks on the Sorrentine Peninsula, where the views of the Amalfi Coast—from the Gulf of Salerno to the Bay of Naples—are stellar; most hiking trails set off from near the cable car station here. Faito’s trails are of varying length and difficulty, so the best way to explore is on a private walking or hiking tour led by a professional nature guide.

The easiest way to reach Faito Mountain is by taking the cable car from the Circumvesuviana train station in Castellammare di Stabia. You can also take the bus from the Circumvesuviana train station in Vico Equense, or drive to the top. To reach the Circumvesuviana line from Positano, Ravello, or Amalfi, take the bus to Sorrento and board the train there.

The cable car runs only in summer, when the lion’s share of hikers hit the trails on Faito Mountain. If hiking in summer, plan to set off early in the morning to avoid the heat of the day; or opt to visit in spring or fall when the temperatures are milder. 

The archaeological ruins of Pompeii at the base of Mount Vesuvius are also located along the Circumvesuviana rail line between Sorrento and Naples, so easy to reach before or after your cable car excursion to the top of Faito.