SORRENTO (ITALY)

Sorrento is one of the gems of the peninsula that bears the same name with the population of 18 thousand people. The Sorrento district includes several resorts: Castellammare di Stabia, Vico Equense, Sant’Agnello, Sorrento, Massa Lubrense, San Agata Sui Die Golfe, Marina Del Cantone. They are located on the northern side of the Sorrento peninsula, which has a burrowed costal line, unique in its beauty. Sorrento itself is situated on a 50-meter terrace, steeply descending to the crystal-blue sea. This unusual location and the surrounding nature make the city especially unique. Attractiveness of the natural landscapes is intensified by abundance of citrus plants, vastness of panoramic view looking onto the Naples Bay, Vesuvius and Flagray Fields and islands of the same name as well as unusual transparency and bright blueness of the sea.

The origin of the name of the city is lost in myths and legends about the Sirens (Surrentum); it is known for sure, however, that since the Neolith epoch human settlements have been here. According to a legend, it is at the shores of Sorrento that the subtle Sirens tried to lead Odyssey and his ship astray by their beautiful voices, but Odyssey deceived them by not yielding to the magic chant of their voices. Nevertheless, the Greeks are believed to be Sorrento’s founders, and the city later was taken over by Romans. Sorrento has always been known as a prestigious place of leisure: Roman patricians built their villas in the vicinity of the city, while on the nearby Capri Island Emperor Tiberius himself settled down.

The city was a favorite place of rest of famous Russian writers, poets, artists and musicians. Ibsen wrote in Sorrento “Per Gyunt,” Nietzsche argued with Wagner, while Gorky pondered about revolution. Sorrento as early as in the last century was a real Russian resort. Scheduled steam boats from Odessa regularly arrived here. Members of the most famous Russian families, including that of the Royal one, as well as writers, poets, artists and musicians lived here for long periods of time. A few people know that the world-wide famous Naples folksong “O Sole Mio” was written by musicians of Russian music-lover Count Polenov and its premiere show took place in Saint Petersburg.

The center of the city is the Tasso Square that begins Corso Italia – a busy commercial street with expensive stores, bars, restaurants and a beautiful cathedral built in XV century. Bright colours of the haven, exquisite ancient mansions, magnificent Sedile Dominova, a former residence of the City Council, Correale di Terranova Cathedral and Museum are the most famous but far from being the only places of note of Sorrento. Sorrento borders several narrow cliffs steeply descending to the sea, to the two bays – Marina Grande and Marina Piccola, where the Sorrento’s port is located and from where boats leave for the Naples, Sorrento and Iskew.

At the daytime the city is not crowded, but in the evenings many local and out-of-town young people flood the streets. The main trade street of Sorrento, Via Corsa, begins with the Tasso Square. On this street there are the main bars, clubs, restaurants and stores. So called Naples dialect dominates on the streets of Sorrento. It is so much different from the “correct” Italian language that the dwellers of Italia from the North who come here do not understand everything the southerners say. Forget about the foreigners… The summer season begins in the middle of April and ends in October. One can swim in the sea only from the end of May until the end of September. The temperature of the water is 22-24 Celsius. In July-August the air reaches 35 Celsius. With green beautiful terraces the city descends to the sea, stops at a high steep cliff. At the ancient times the steep shores Sorrento is located on were a safeguard from the enemies. What Sorrento cannot be proud of are sand beaches, even beaches as such. Along the entire coastal line you can count them using fingers of one hand, and one can descend to them only by special lifts.

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