Sorrento Area Holidays

The Sorrentine Peninsula curves along the edge of the Bay of Naples, in Italy’s Campania region. The area’s overlooked by the massive outline of Mount Vesuvius, and has the home of pizza – Naples – just across the water. The jewel in its crown is the seafront town of Sorrento, which is known for its foodie scene and squirrelled-away shopping streets. Gelato bars, authentic trattorias and vine-shrouded souvenir shops fill the cosy lanes, and there are seafront bars at Marina Grande serving zesty tots of limoncello.

This part of Italy is something of a history hub – the name on everyone’s lips is Pompeii. This ancient city was enveloped in volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD, and lay buried until archaeologists uncovered the intact buildings and streets. These days you can tour the remains of the city, walking on the same cobbles as those that lived here thousands of years earlier. Elsewhere, the former holiday town of Herculaneum – preserved by molten mud in the same incident – is a lesser known spot to explore. And to get views of the whole lot, you can walk to the top of the volcano.

Because the Sorrento Area’s strung out along the coastline, boat trips are a mainstay of nearly every town. Sorrento’s Marina Grande and Marina Piccolo have the most regular comings and goings, with scenic cruises along the Amalfi Coast a popular pick. Island daytrips are on the cards, too – you can sail across to the beach-brushed shores of Ischia, or explore the swanky fashion-filled streets of Capri – a celeb favourite.

Aside from Sorrento itself, the rest of the peninsula’s settlements are made of more traditional stuff. The likes of Piano di Sorrento and Sant’Agnello tick along at a leisurely pace, and you’re more likely to see locals sipping coffee at a piazza than groups of tourists. Meta di Sorrento, meanwhile, has one of the region’s few sandy beaches. Apart from this volcanic sliver of sand, most of the sunbathing territory in these parts is made up of wooden platforms and rocky outcrops.