Sorrento Guide

The Italian town of Sorrento is located in Camania in southern Italy and overlooks the Bay of Naples. There are many amazing views from the town towards the city of Naples, Vesuvius and across to the island of Capri. As it is close to Naples and Pompeii and at the south eastern end of the Circumvesuviana railway line, Sorrento is a very popular tourist destination. The town is also on the Amalfi Drive which is an 80 km narrow road that follows the coast's high cliffs above the Tyrrhenian Sea between Sorrento and Amalfi. Aside from the beautiful towns and villages along the road, the road itself is a popular tourist attraction in its own right because of the spectacular views to be had.

The town itself does not have a great deal of attractions to offer and is therefore principally used by tourists as a base from which to explore the surrounding areas. Although, the 14th century Chiesa di San Francesco, with its flowery cloister, is worth visiting. There is also a small garden next to the church which has spectacular views across the Bay of Naples and is a good place to stop for a little peace and quiet. South of Corso Italia there is a medieval cathedral, and more of the town's history can be seen at Museo Correale, near the station.

From the town's port, ferries can be taken to Capri, Naples and to Castellammare di Stabia.

Amalfi Guide

The Italian town of Amalfi is the largest town located along the Amalfi Coast which is in the Province of Solerno. The town lies on the shores of the Gulf of Solerno and at the base of Monte Cerreto. Along with many other towns along the Amalfi Coast such as Ravello and Positano, Amalfi has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town's written history dates back to the 6th century AD and soon after became an important maritime power by trading grain from its neighbours, slaves from the interior, salt from Sardinia and timber, in exchange for gold dinars minted in Egypt and Syria. This trade was carried out in order to purchase Byzantine silks that it then sold on to the West.

The town is used to looking after its visitors with several former monasteries having being converted into hotels. The Luna Convento was converted in the beginning of the 19th century and the Cappuccini Convento was converted in the 1880's. Celebrated visitors to Amalfi included the composer Richard Wagner and the playwright Henrik Ibsen, who both completed works whilst staying in Amalfi.

Seasonal hydrofoil routes connect the resorts on the Sorrentine and Amalfi coasts as well as Pozzuoli, Ischia, Procida, Naples, Torre Annunziata (for Pompeii), Ercolano (for Herculaneum), Capri, Salerno, Agropoli (for Paestum) and Palinuro on the Cilento Coast.