A cloister, a lost mill valley and a fishing harbour
Sorrento's old town is small enough to cross on foot in fifteen minutes. Park once, at Achille Lauro, and leave the car there.
1. Look down into the Vallone dei Mulini
The Vallone dei Mulini sits behind Piazza Tasso. Its stone mill was closed and abandoned in the 1940s; building the piazza in 1866 had already cut the valley off from the sea. You look; you don't go down.
2. Sit in San Francesco's cloister
The San Francesco cloister is a Moorish-style cloister, its oldest part from the 12th century. It's next to the Villa Comunale, so do both.
3. See the Correale's collection
The Museo Correale is an 18th-century villa on land Queen Joan of Anjou gave the family in 1428. Tickets are €15, closed on Monday. It's a two-minute walk from the car park.
4. Find the saint in the crypt
The Basilica di Sant'Antonino dates from the 11th century; the patron saint lies in the crypt. Look for the sailors' ex-votos from shipwrecks.
5. Walk past the Sedile Dominova
The Sedile Dominova was built in the 16th century as an open loggia. Free to look at from the street.
6. Walk down to Marina Grande
Marina Grande is the old fishing harbour. I'd walk down in the late afternoon and eat there.
7. Swim at the Regina Giovanna
The Bagni della Regina Giovanna is a natural pool fed through a rock arch, next to the ruins at Capo di Sorrento.
Gnocchi, cannelloni and lemons under straw
1. Order gnocchi alla sorrentina
Potato gnocchi with tomato, basil and diced fiordilatte, baked with Parmesan. Fiordilatte, not buffalo, is also what marks the local pizza.
2. Try cannelloni where they claim them
O' Parrucchiano La Favorita says cannelloni were invented here in 1870. I can't prove it; order them anyway.
3. Eat fish at Da Emilia
Trattoria Da Emilia is called the oldest place in the borgo and takes no bookings. Gnocchi with seafood is the dish.
4. Look for the lemon pergolas
Sorrento lemons carry an EU IGP mark and grow under chestnut-pole pergolas that delay ripening. Limoncello and the delizia al limone both start there.
5. Ask for spaghetti alle noci
Spaghetti with garlic, anchovies and Sorrento walnuts, a Slow Food presidium. For a cheaper plate, La Cantinaccia del Popolo is where the guides send locals.
A saint in February, hooded processions at Easter
1. Come for Sant'Antonino on 14 February
The patron's feast is Sunday 14 February 2027: the silver statue goes round town, with lights and fireworks. I'd park early.
2. Stay up for Good Friday
Good Friday 2027 is 26 March. In 2026 the white procession left Via Fuoro at 03:00 and the black one Via Sersale at 20:30. The 2027 times aren't out.
3. Mind the winter ZTL
One source says the zone returns from 7 December to 6 January on holidays and the days before them. I couldn't confirm it officially, so I'd avoid driving in on those evenings.
What's on
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 7 December 2026 – 6 January 2027, holidays and pre-holidays (one source) | Winter ZTL window reported; check the gate signs |
| Sunday 14 February 2027 | Feast of Sant'Antonino, patron saint: silver statue procession, lights, fireworks |
| Thursday 25 – Friday 26 March 2027 (Holy Week) | Holy Week processions; in 2026 the white procession left Via Fuoro at 03:00 on Good Friday and the black one Via Sersale at 20:30. 2027 times not published |
| 1 April 2027 (expected start, not yet published) | Summer ZTL season and ANAS SS163 alternate-plate rules: 2027 calendars unpublished |