Sorrento Dreaming - Sorrento Hotel and Tourist Information

Sorrento’s historical centre has the usual greek-roman parallel roads around the major decuman of  Via San Cesareo and the hinge of Via Tasso.  The starting point is the illuminous piazza Tasso (square), where the two fine statues of St Anthony and the monument to Torquato Tasso is erected, the work of Gennaro Cali of 1866.

On the square’s outskirts is the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine, with a single nave and two side altars, while on the southern boundary of the piazza is Casa Correale, dating from the end of the XV century.

Taking via della Pieta (street) that connects Piazza Tasso with the Cathedral, we encounter two of the oldest buildings of the city: the thirteenth century Palazzo Veniero, that is distinguished by the decorations in yellow and grey tuff, and Palazzo Correale, which dates from the fourteenth century, even if the only remains of the medieval era is the durazzo portals and  two elegant (mullioned windows) with the Correale family coat of arms.

From via della Pieta, you reach the Cathedral, with its gothic façade which was rebuilt in the modern style.  Continuing along Corso Italia, you find in Via Sersale the eighteenth century congregation of the Servants of Mary, which is accessed via a two flight marble staircase where the ancient chapel of St Barnabas is located.

Rare evidence of ancient noble seats are Sedile Dominova, located in the harmonious piazzetta (small square). Dating back to the fifteenth century, it presents itself as an arched logia enclosed on two sides by balustrades while the other two walls are painted with frescoes.

It is completely decorated by allegories, eighteenth century architectural quadrature and crowned by a cupola in majolica.

Continuing across the alleyway of San Caesareo, the heart of the city, full of shops of wood inlay, typical objects and local products, you reach Piazza Sant’Antonino (Saint Anthony Square) where the beautiful statue, the work of Tommaso Solari is located and the basilica of the same namesake

Finally worth mentioning is the Valley of the Mills, that together with 4 valleys were used in ancient times to indicate the border between the towns (Meta, Piano, Sant’Angello, Sorrento).

The Valley of the Mills of Sorrento is the best conserved.  The valley takes its name from the presence of a mill that was used until the beginning of twentieth century to grind grain for the people of Sorrento.