Some Curiosity about Sorrento that might surprise you

Sorrento, Italy is a verdant seaside city perched in the hilly countryside above the Amalfi Coast in southwestern Italy. Nestled between the Bay of Naples off the Sorrentine Peninsula and the Lattari Mountains, this ancient city offers unbeatable vistas and delectable foods that will take your breath away. In fact, it is adored by the public so much that it was designated a World Heritage Site in 1997.

While it’s not part of the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento acts as a gateway to many classic Italian cities like Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Pompeii, and Herculaneum. Here, we’ve put together 7 facts about the coastal city that we think you’ll find interesting:

The city gets its name from the mythological Greek Sirens

Before the Romans took over Italy, Greeks and Etruscans inhabited the Sorrentine Peninsula, as seen by the planimetry used in the layout of the town. Legend has it that the Greek warrior Odysseus (the main character in The Odyssey) founded a temple devoted to the cult of the Sirens; mythological mermaids who lured sailors to their death with their bewitching songs.

In the story, a benevolent sorceress who favours Odysseus, Circe, warns him that his ship will soon encounter the sirens. In a spur of ingenuity, Odysseus stuffs wax in his ears and the ears of his sailors. Odysseus then orders the sailors to tie him to the ship’s mast until they pass the alluring sea temptresses.

The city itself likely got its name from the sirens, rumoured to swim off the coast of Sorrento.

Sorrento is the home of Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina,

or “Sorrento Style”

When you think about Italy, pasta is always quick to come to mind. Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina is a potato gnocchi covered with tomato sauce, pecorino cheese, basil, and mozzarella. It’s placed in the oven, broiled, and baked, and the cheese melts to form a crust.

Every area in Italy has different interpretations, but the gnocchi in Sorrento, with its ample usage of cheese, has really become an iconic staple of the region. No visit to Sorrento is complete without a sample of their delectable pasta.

Sorrento is the home of limoncello

Sorrento is also the birthplace of limoncello, a citrus-based alcohol developed in the sun-kissed city. It’s an after-dinner digestive usually made with lemons or oranges. Citrus rinds are the main ingredient, but the drink also requires water, sugar, and alcohol.

Due to its popularity, the city is home to many orange and Femminello-style lemon orchards, located close to the main square, Piazza Tasso. Lemons and oranges aren’t endemic to the region, so before their introduction, Greeks and Romans drank wine.

Lemons were brought to the region by Jewish immigrants traversing the Silk Road in the first century A.D. and became a staple in the city. Jesuit priests began developing a careful growing process in the 1600s. Femminello lemons have thrived in the Campania region ever since.

Sorrento is perfect for day trips to many Amalfi Coast cities

Access to other coastal cities like Naples and the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum at the base of Mount Vesuvius is available via the Circumvesuvian train system.

Buses also operate between Sorrento and cities like Positano, Ravello, and Amalfi. A bus is the best way to get between these cities. Capri is accessible by ferry or hydrofoil and offers a funicular on the island. Once there, try their famous invention, the Caprese salad.