Sorrento Peninsula

<< Campania

The Sorrento Peninsula is a peninsula located between Naples and Salerno. Named after the town of Sorrento, the peninsula is known for its beautiful coastline facing the Gulf of Naples. Most of the peninsula is part of the Metropolitan City of Naples, while part of the southern coast is in the Province of Salerno, and it is known as the Amalfi Coast. Just off the tip of the peninsula is the island of Capri.

Sorrento

Sorrento is a town located along the northern coast of the Sorrento Peninsula. Inhabited since ancient times, it was an important center under the Romans. During the Middle Ages, it was the site of a small duchy, before becoming part of the Kingdom of Sicily, later sharing the history of the rest of the region. Sorrento is now a popular tourist destination and seaside resort, also known for its ceramics, laceworks, and woodworks.

Sorrento Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Santi Filippo e Giacomo (Cattedrale dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo)

The Sorrento Cathedral (Duomo di Sorrento) is the main religious site in the city. Originally built in Gothic style during the 11th century, it was reworked and expanded several times, with the addition of Baroque elements. The cathedral now features a Gothic Revival facade made in the early 20th century, while the interior houses several artworks and decorations. The church also hosts the baptismal font in which poet Torquato Tasso was baptized in 1544.

Vallone dei Mulini

The Vallone dei Mulini is a gorge in Sorrento, and one of the most peculiar sights in the Sorrento Peninsula. The deep valley, entirely covered with plants, features several abandoned mills dating as far back as the Late Middle Ages.

Intarsia Museum

The Intarsia Museum (Museo Bottega della Tarsia Lignea) is a museum in Sorrento dedicated to the traditional woodworks of the city. The museum houses a large collection of historic intarsia, along with various other artworks.

Church of San Francesco

The Church of San Francesco is one of the largest churches in Sorrento, located near the coastline of the town. Adjacent to the church is a 14th-century cloister, while in front of the building is the park of Villa Comunale.

Correale Museum

The Correale Museum (Museo Correale) is a museum hosted in a historic villa in Sorrento. The museum houses a very varied collection, with archaeological findings, paintings from the 17th and 18th century, and historic furnishings. The museum also has rich sections dedicated to ceramics and majolica, with pieces from all over the world.

Massa Lubrense

Massa Lubrense is a municipality that includes various villages located at the end of the Sorrento Peninsula, west of Sorrento. The coast and the mountains in this area are known for their natural beauty.

Punta Campanella

Punta Campanella is the very end of the Sorrento Peninsula, and divides the Gulf of Naples from the Gulf of Salerno. This place once hosted a Greek temple, but now a watchtower built in the 14th century and reworked in the 16th century stands here. Punta Campanella and the surrounding coast are part of a Marine Protected Area, and the site also offers a breathtaking view on the sea and the nearby island of Capri.

Vico Equense

Vico Equense is a town located on the northern coast of the Sorrento Peninsula, east of Sorrento. Settled in ancient times, the town once hosted luxurious Roman villas. Now it is a tourist destination and seaside resort thanks to its beautiful coastline.

Church of Santissima Annunziata

The Church of Santissima Annunziata is a historic church in Vico Equense, known for its spectacular position on top of a cliff on the sea. Originally built in the 14th century, it was later reworked with Baroque decorations and artworks. Thanks to its position, it offers a breathtaking view on the Gulf of Naples.

Antiquarium Silio Italico

The Antiquarium Silio Italico is an archaeological museum in Vico Equense. The museum hosts a wide range of archaeological findings unearthed in the Sorrento Peninsula. The many ancient objects housed here mostly date between the 7th century BCE and the Roman era.

Campanian Mineralogical Museum

The Campanian Mineralogical Museum (Museo Mineralogico Campano) is a museum of natural history in Vico Equense. The museum houses a large collection of minerals, mostly coming from the surrounding region, but also including rocks from all over the world. The museum also features several fossils.

Castellammare di Stabia

Castellammare di Stabia is a city located at the start of the Sorrento Peninsula and near the Vesuvian Area, facing the Gulf of Naples. Founded in ancient times, it was known as Stabiae in Roman times, but the town was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. The town emerged once again in the Middle Ages, and it is now a seaside resort.

✪ Archaeological Area of Stabiae

Stabiae was an ancient settlement near the modern Castellammare di Stabia, and was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. The town hosted several luxurious Roman villas, some of which have been unearthed in archaeological excavations. The most notable of these is Villa San Marco, one of the largest Roman villas in the region. Another large villa located nearby is Villa Arianna, while several other smaller villas are located around the same area. Some of the villas still feature ancient Roman frescoes, and numerous artworks have been unearthed here.

Castellammare di Stabia Cathedral

The Castellammare di Stabia Cathedral (Duomo di Castellammare di Stabia) is the main church in the city. Erected in the 16th century, the building saw several later additions. Inside the church are numerous artworks, paintings, frescoes, and rich decorations, with various adorned chapels. The church is also known for its historic and elaborate nativity scene, which includes statues from the 17th, 18th, and 19th century.

Royal Palace of Quisisana

The Royal Palace of Quisisana (Reggia di Quisisana) is a historic palace located at the foot of the mountains in Castellammare di Stabia. Built in the Late Middle Ages and later reworked several times, it served for centuries as a royal residence. The palace is surrounded by a large park and a decorated garden. Inside, it houses an archaeological museum with objects unearthed from the excavations of Stabiae.