AMALFI COAST
Amalfi Coast is on the same peninsula as Sorrento coast, but on the Salerno side. The Amalfi Coast is not far from Sorrento and staying in Sorrento means also having the possibility to visit or arrange some excursions to Salerno, the Amalfi Coast, and many other beautiful places in the province of Salerno. By car Sorrento is only 14 km far from Positano, 21 km far from Praiano, 26 km from Conca dei Marini, 31 km from Amalfi, 37 km from Ravello and Furore, 32 km from Atrani, 35 km from Minori, 36 km from Maiori, 52 km from Cetara, and 58 km from Vietri sul Mare.
THE ERUPTION OF THE VESUVIUS IN 79 A.D
The terrible eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. . buried some towns of Roman Empire during a prosperous period. The remains of those towns now can be visited by tourists.
The town of Pompeii is just 28 km from Sorrento and it is a very interesting example of a rich Roman town, with its villas and the palaces, but also the popular houses and the shops.
The excavations of Herculaneum (41 km from Sorrento) have not been completely recovered because the modern Ercolano is mostly built on the ancient one. But findings have been perfectly preserved by mud: even fabrics, documents, clothes, wood objects, etc. In Ercolano you will also find furniture of that time.
Near Ercolano there is Castellammare di Stabia (17 km from Sorrento) with three elegant and rich villas and the thermal baths that were part of Stabiae, an important of I century b.C.
Torre Annunziata (28 km from Sorrento) includes Oplontis, a peripheral part of Pompeii, and includes a real artistic jewe: the villa of Poppea, the second wife of Nero, the Emperor. This is a very beautiful and elegant villa.
In Boscoreale (30 km from Sorrento) there are the remains of an ancient Roman factory, a rural villa with tools and objects of the period, a cistern, etc. Visitors can easily imagine how rural life was during Roman times.
NAPLES
Naples is 52 km from Sorrento. The history of Naples dates back to 8th century BC, when the Greeks founded 'Neapolis'. It was the capital of the Reign of the Two Sicilies and it is the main town of Campania. Naples is very interesting for its art, culture, history, and architecture. It is famous all over the world for folklore and gastronomy. Naples is one of the most vibrant Italian cities. It has a lovely bay with wonderful views of the islands. You can walk through the famous 'spaccanapoli', with its church of Santa Chiara. Visit the Royal Palace, the elegant Piazza Plebiscito and the Galleria Umberto I.
PAESTUM AND VELIA
Paestum and Velia were two important towns of Magna Graecia. The excavations of Paestum, 97 Km from Sorrento, are famous all over the world thanks to the three Greek Doric temples. The excavations of Velia are 151 Km from Sorrento. Velia was the ancient town of Eleatic school, and was very important for the development of philosophy.
CASERTA
Caserta, 75 km from Sorrento, is the town of the royal palace designed by Luigi Vanvitelli. He created a palace that was inspired by the one of Versailles. The ancient part of Caserta, the Middle Ages part, is picturesque and charming and deserves a visit, too.
CAMPI FLEGREI
This volcanic area is still active and became a regional park in 1993. According to ancient people, the dead lived in this area. In this territory there are many remains of Roman times, because Pozzuoli was the port of Rome up to the creation of a port in Ostia. Roman noblemen loved this region.
CAPRI AND ISCHIA
They are the most beautiful isles of Campania and can be easily reached from Sorrento. Capri was loved by Emperor Tiberius and today it is, unquestionably, the holiday princess of the Italian islands. Simply idyllic with its shimmering Blue Grotto and cliffs that descend down into the sea.Capri has trendy jewellery shops and designer boutiques. Ischia is the largest of the Partenopean Islands which include Capri, Procida and Vivara. It is volcanic with an abundance of vegetation and thermal springs. . Capri is opposite Punta Campanella, while Ischia is opposite the other side of the Gulf of Naples.
SORRENTO COAST
Sorrento coast is rich of resources: nature, history, and archaeology. Near Sorrento there are beautiful small towns, such as Vico Equense with its small beaches and the museum dedicated to minerals; Massa Lubrense with the marine reserve of Punta Campanella; Castellammare di Stabia, with the remains of the Roman villas; Gragnano with its delicious pasta and wine..
