Holidays in the sun
Sorrento
Our jaunt around the Bay of Naples had so far taken in the very cool Naples and a crazy busy Capri, before we landed at Sorrento, our base for a planned plethora of excursions.
On first impressions the main ferry port of Sorrento, Marina Piccola, was a far more civilised experience than the Capri equivalent. And the town itself, perched on high dramatic cliffs seemed more geared up to cope with the number of tourists flocking there. We were staying in an apartment a stone's throw from the main train and bus stations, which made for the perfect location to explore the region.
Piazza Tasso is the heart of Sorrento, a busy cafe-lined square that is very popular with tourists. From there the main shopping street and route down to Marina Piccola angle outwards, but it's the bustling shops, boutiques and restaurants in the narrow lanes of the old town that are much more interesting to explore. And in Sorrento you are never too far away from a dramatic mirador offering a spectacular cliff-top view of marinas and lidos far below, back dropped by the wonderful Bay of Naples.
Exploring the twists and turns of the old town will eventually lead you to the jewel in Sorrento's crown, the Marina Grande.
Whilst Marina Piccola is functional, and where you'll investigate the sea bound options of getting to Capri, Naples or Positano. Marina Grande is a picture perfect harbour where the locals come to fish, eat the fish they've caught, drink, swim and mess around on boats.
We visited here every day and tried out most of the excellent sea food restaurants overlooking the sea. The popular O'Puledrone is the local fisherman's cooperative that we always like to visit when we get close to the coast. And it was superb. Great food washed down with cold beer. What more can you ask for?
We even joined the locals and swam in the sea at Marina Grande. And despite changing into swimming trunks under a towel for the first time in 40 years it was great fun, and certainly cooled us down. One afternoon we jumped on a small boat from the marina and enjoyed a very relaxing trip around the Sorrento coastline to where it merges into the Almalfi coast.
In the nicest possible sense Sorrento has evolved into the perfect Italian tourist destination.
It has the location, great transport links, a beautiful old style harbour, as well as lots of marinas offering that exclusive sunbed service if that's your bag. There is a mix of accommodation and there are so many places to eat you are spoilt for choice. The really good ones do get busy mind, so book ahead, or try them at lunchtime as we did a few times. And it's the perfect base to day trip to Vesuvius and Herculaneum, Pompeii, and the Almalfi coast.
All of which we did, and they were ace, and I'll be writing about very soon.
Our jaunt around the Bay of Naples had so far taken in the very cool Naples and a crazy busy Capri, before we landed at Sorrento, our base for a planned plethora of excursions.
 |
| Marina Grande, Sorrento, Italy |
On first impressions the main ferry port of Sorrento, Marina Piccola, was a far more civilised experience than the Capri equivalent. And the town itself, perched on high dramatic cliffs seemed more geared up to cope with the number of tourists flocking there. We were staying in an apartment a stone's throw from the main train and bus stations, which made for the perfect location to explore the region.
 |
| Sorrento, Italy |
Piazza Tasso is the heart of Sorrento, a busy cafe-lined square that is very popular with tourists. From there the main shopping street and route down to Marina Piccola angle outwards, but it's the bustling shops, boutiques and restaurants in the narrow lanes of the old town that are much more interesting to explore. And in Sorrento you are never too far away from a dramatic mirador offering a spectacular cliff-top view of marinas and lidos far below, back dropped by the wonderful Bay of Naples.
 |
| Sorrento, Italy |
Exploring the twists and turns of the old town will eventually lead you to the jewel in Sorrento's crown, the Marina Grande.
 |
| Sorrento, Italy |
Whilst Marina Piccola is functional, and where you'll investigate the sea bound options of getting to Capri, Naples or Positano. Marina Grande is a picture perfect harbour where the locals come to fish, eat the fish they've caught, drink, swim and mess around on boats.
We visited here every day and tried out most of the excellent sea food restaurants overlooking the sea. The popular O'Puledrone is the local fisherman's cooperative that we always like to visit when we get close to the coast. And it was superb. Great food washed down with cold beer. What more can you ask for?
 |
| Sorrento, Italy |
We even joined the locals and swam in the sea at Marina Grande. And despite changing into swimming trunks under a towel for the first time in 40 years it was great fun, and certainly cooled us down. One afternoon we jumped on a small boat from the marina and enjoyed a very relaxing trip around the Sorrento coastline to where it merges into the Almalfi coast.
 |
| Sorrento, Italy |
In the nicest possible sense Sorrento has evolved into the perfect Italian tourist destination.
It has the location, great transport links, a beautiful old style harbour, as well as lots of marinas offering that exclusive sunbed service if that's your bag. There is a mix of accommodation and there are so many places to eat you are spoilt for choice. The really good ones do get busy mind, so book ahead, or try them at lunchtime as we did a few times. And it's the perfect base to day trip to Vesuvius and Herculaneum, Pompeii, and the Almalfi coast.
All of which we did, and they were ace, and I'll be writing about very soon.
 |
| Sorrento, Italy |
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