Sights

Il Chiostro di San Francesco
A few metres from Piazza Sant'Antonino, where the Basilica dedicated to the patron saint of Sorrento stands, in Piazza Francesco Saverio Gargiulo rises a historic triptych set in a tuff wall known in Peninsula as "conventual complex of San Francesco d'Assisi". The elements which characterize the triptych are: the Church, the Monastery and the Cloister.
The Church, which dates back to the XIV century, is a triumph of baroque style with rich stucco decorations. It is a church cradle of precious "treasures of our memory" like a majestic wooden main door of the 1500's, two frescoes of '700 portraying Sant'Antonio of Padova and San Giacomo, returned to the light during restoration work in 1926, and a splendid wooden statue of San Francesco with Christ Crucified. Near the Church a Monastery is erected, founded in the VII century, given to the Franciscan monks in the XIV century, and a beautiful Cloister.

The Deep Valley of the Mills
In the historical centre of Sorrento, behind Tasso Square, it is possible to admire from above - in a suggestive perspective - a natural extraordinary spectacle: The Deep Valley of the Mills.
The Deep Valley encircles on the south-east side, the tuffaceous block of the present historical centre of Sorrento; observing it from above a characteristic rift of the rock is visible, that carves profoundly and transversely the tuffaceous platform. This incisive rift has originated from the vastest eruption which shook the Mediterranean about 35,000 years ago.

The Antique Walls
The historic centre of Sorrento, of Greek-osca origin, coincides with the area included in the 16th century walls (1551-1561) still visible today in many points.
The remains of the Greek walls, today, can still be admired in the "sopra le Mura" (over the Walls) area; an antique pre-Roman door exists as well, a few metres underneath the actual gate of "Parsano Nuovo" (New Parsano). These walls, remained a protection of Sorrento during the whole medieval age.

The Basilica of Saint Antonino.
The Basilica was erected in the XI century in the place where an antique oratory (IX century), dedicated to Saint Antonino stood, there where rested the mortal remains of the Saint that here found refuge during the Longobard invasion.
The Church is rich with elements of spoil, like the column shafts coming, most probably, from the numerous Roman country homes present in the area.
In the lobby which precedes the Church, are preserved 2 cetacean ribs posted as memento of the most famous miracle attributed to the patron Saint of Sorrento. It is narrated, in fact, that a whale had swallowed a child and that the Saint liberated the young boy drawing him safe and sound from the mouth of the whale.
As testimony of this wonderful miracle, the Sorrentines placed these two whale bones at the entrance of the Basilica erected in honour of the Saint.

Restaurants:

L'Antica Trattoria
Via P.R. Guiliani 33
Tel: 081/8071082

O'Parrucchiano
Corso Italia 71/73
Tel: 081/8781321

Emilia
Marina Grande 62
Tel: 081/8072720