However, Sorrento is a dazzling destination that stands alone in its renown. Charming as the day is long this beautiful little town won’t disappoint.

The Town

Charming as you can imagine, Sorrento is more than I expected. I immediately felt welcome in this homey atmosphere. The many cobbles and steps in this quaint village put a smile on my face everywhere we went.

The people are so friendly, used to tourists they really go out of their way to speak in their broken English so that you can understand them. They are more than delighted to show you the way and make their town a place to which you will want to return again and again.

I would have loved to include a photo of some of the townspeople but that is something apparently frowned upon. So I just got this of a clerk in a shop who was so sweet and so helpful as she gave a demonstration on how to use ingredients and spices. Oh and it smelled so good!

Sorrento Cathedral

This unassuming church is located in the heart of town dating back to the 10th-12th centuries.

It isn’t until you enter that its beauty unfolds. For example, the central ceiling is completely painted on cloth. What a gorgeous church!

San Francesco of Assisi Church 

The history of this church dates back to the 8th century and is intimately linked to that of the monumental complex which, besides a convent/monastery, includes a wonderful 14th century Cloister and is still as of today  inhabited by friars. This splendid location is where musical events of the summer take place.

The Markets

We wandered through the charming streets and outdoor markets, tried nespola or loquat (the fruit of the medlar tree, akin to a miniature sweet apple) and picked up several spice packets at a cute little shop called Nino & Friends for souvenirs to bring home.

The Food

We enjoyed a plate of real Italian spaghetti. We had to, right? We stopped in at Bar Ristorante 2000 (Campitello Matese, Sorrento) that seemed to cater to more to locals.

Oh my goodness the sauce. It was indescribable. Apparently the absolutely wonderful flavor comes from the pomodoro di Sorrento. What an amazing sauce!

While enjoying our meal we were accompanied by the distant sound of a nearby accordion player. They certainly know how to set the atmosphere for a memorable time on your way to the Italian Amalfi Coast! This is definitely a place I want to return one day and maybe stay longer and eat more of this amazing Italian food!

And what is a trip to Italy without having some gelato and wonderful Italian espresso? If you don’t, did you really go to Italy?

The Shopping

As we wandered through the streets we came upon charming and more charming areas. Sorrento is a terrific shopping destination. The main shopping streets in town are the Corso Italia and Via San Cesareo.

Here you will find endless boutiques selling custom sandals, carved woodwork, hand-painted ceramics as well as everything made from the Sorrento lemons.

Piazzo Torqato Tasso

Named after the 17th-century poet in this square you’ll experience the hub of the city and the perfect spot for you to grab a light lunch while you enjoy people watching and drink in all the Italian charm of Sorrento.

 The Limoncello

We also came upon and tasted their world renowned limoncello liqueur made from locally grown limoni zest of. Well, I didn’t actually have the liqueur as a drink but instead opted to taste it inside the fancy chocolates we found in a cute little shop called Sapori & Colori which is actually a limoncello factory which sells this typical product of Sorrento. If ever find yourself on the Amalfi Coast you must stop in. They give out samples of every product they sell so you can taste before you buy. And I certainly did buy.

Location of Sapori & Colori :: Via S. Cesareo, 57, 80067 Sorrento NA (click here for map)

Side note :: I thought it would be of interest to include information about how the these special Femminello St. Teresa (also known as Sorrento or Sfusato) lemons came about. Although it is thought that lemons and Italy just naturally go together, few people realize that lemon trees are not local to Italy. As the story goes they were originally brought over from India or China.

Due to the cooler winter mediterranean temperatures growing them here takes special care so they built what is known as lemon houses. The giant structures a bit like glass-less terraced greenhouses are left open during the hot summer months allowing the lemon trees to flourish and fruit in the sun’s heat. As the air begins to cool in autumn and winter, the limonaia can be covered with wooden struts that slot into the top of the structure.

Apparently their discovery of successful lemon growth led them to sell them throughout Europe. Limoncello has since become the second most popular liqueur in Italy after Campari.

 The Views

Sorrento sits on a picturesque cliff overlooking and making dramatic views over the Bay of Naples. It is certainly a must-see city while traveling through the southwest region of Italy. Known as the land of colors, traditions, mysteries, and legends make for some interesting tales. By casting their spell and causing you to fall in love with the coast, you will return again!

Marina Grande

Marina Grande is a small fishing village nestled into this charming nook famous for its wooden boats of all different colors. An adorable little marina that makes a great view from the top of the hill. Despite being a wonderful resort the Port of Marina Grande has maintained its rustic charm, original identity and sense of community, and it makes a wonderful photo op!

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I have got to say that Sorrento is every bit as adorable as I read about on the travel websites. But even though I sort of knew what to expect this little town really exceeded all of my expectations. There are many words I could use to describe Sorrento but charming definitely stands out above the rest.

The nearest airport to Sorrento is Naples which is about 30 miles away so a short drive. We didn’t spend any time in Naples because it is such a big city :: we immediately headed for Amalfi. And we are so glad we did!

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We traveled by train from the cruise port to Riomaggiore, the first and most southern of the Cinque Terre.

Riomaggiore

As we entered Riomaggiore we walked through a tunnel lined with hand-painted tile and artwork. It was really a beautiful way to enter the Five Villages for my first time. I’d seen pictures and was instantly drawn to Cinque Terre but in all fairness you have to physically visit it to experience the true magnitude of its beauty.

We spent most of our time wandering the streets of Riomaggiore. What a beautiful town, even in the rain.

We had originally planned to walk the trails from one town to the other however the paths were wet, unstable and partially closed due to the rains so we opted to take the train between towns. It was actually very easy to navigate, much easier than I had anticipated. And it probably was a better option, giving us time to wander without worrying about the time so much. By train it only took about 5 minutes before we arrived in Manarola.

Manarola

Another beautiful town I was instantly drawn to Manarola’s cliff walls that were naturally formed by the earth’s movement.

The rains trickled ever so gently along its walls and the greenery that sprouted out from between the rocks.

We ducked into a little place for a cup of strong Italian coffee before continuing on our journey.

Corniglia

Corniglia was the next town in Cinque Terre we hopped off the train to see. And such a cute town it was! Filled with adorable little shops and houses, and although the cloudy skies didn’t reveal all the beautiful colors as I’d seen in pictures it was so beautiful. Then for just a few seconds the sun peeked out to help me understand more clearly what a difference the sun makes to brighten up this little corner of the world. I wish I had captured that little bit of sun on film. But it just means that I’ll have to come back again.

Vernazza

Vernazza has to be my favorite of the five villages. With the cute fishing boats docked down below on the Ligurian Riviera it made the most picturesque view of the water. We walked and walked up and down the hills on little pathways between the houses not wanting to miss any little nook and cranny we passed. 

It was amazing to me that there were so many tourists here with us that day. Especially a large tour group with all of their camera equipment and selfie sticks, stopping to take pictures every step of the way, made it difficult to see clearly. It was then that we decided to duck inside the Gente di Mare with its beautiful pipe organ in the balcony above. And we took the steps down to the lower level to get back out to the street.

It was mid-morning so we stopped at this cute little Focacceria. All they sold was focaccia. And OMG can I just say that it was the best focaccia I’d ever had? That’s probably to be expected having tasted it in Italy for the first time. Seriously, it was indescribably delicious. Perfectly seasoned, perfectly soft on the inside and perfectly toasted on the outside.

I wish I would have recorded the girls behind the counter as they sung Italian songs while they worked. It was like out of a fairy tale movie. We ate our scrumptious focaccia on the steps outside and just listed to the music. Yes. We were in Italy and I was absorbing every scent, every sound. And no, I couldn’t wait to delve into this wonderful bread before capturing a picture of it! HA!

Monterossa al Mare

Our last stop and at the north-most end of Cinque Terre was Monterosso al Mare. This town was unique to the rest as it didn’t have that “small town” feel as the others did.

We didn’t let a little rain stop us from getting some gelato because, well, you have to have gelato when in Italy, right?

After a quick look around town we took out our tickets and headed back out to the train to La Spezia and onboard our ship.

As I said earlier, this was a great way to just see an overview of Cinque Terre but I am convinced we will be back to spend more quality time in this beautiful place.

I’d love to find the perfect time for a visit :: when the weather is beautiful but there are not so many tourists. Is there such a time? We will see. But regardless, I know I’ll be back because this has been one of my favorite cruise stops so far.

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On my first visit to Naples I hadn’t really considered first visiting Pompeii. I knew it would be mind-blowing to see this city which was buried beneath meters of burning ash during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79A.D. But I decided to forge ahead. I wasn’t quite prepared for what I was about to witness. The tour guide I had was incredible. It’s actually unfathomable to me how someone can retell the haunting story of Pompeii over + over again. It literally gave me goosebumps.

I was able to take a ton of pictures of this the most compelling of Europe’s archaeological sites :: the ruins of Pompei :: a stark reminder of the destructive forces that lie deep inside Vesuvius.

Just images in this post. I’ve left out (on purpose) images of the people that were found. I wasn’t prepared to see that. So I didn’t think you would be either.

It amazes me to think of all the work it took to remove the 5 meters of ashes that buried this area. I didn’t realize that Pompei stood undiscovered for 1600 years. Normally structures would not have lasted for posterity but due to the fact that it was ashes covering it without any source of light hitting it most everything that wasn’t destroyed (by the weight of the ashes such as the rooftops) was still left standing + in tact.

During the first phase of uncovering Pompeii beginning in 1748 excavation was carried out essentially in order to find art objects. Many artifacts considered suitable for the private collection of the Bourbon king Charles III (1759-1788) were removed + transported to Naples where they remain to this day :: displayed in the Museo Nazionale. And according to what I read the last phase took place in 2003. From start to finish I counted approximately 13 excavation directors that have headed up restoration projects throughout the 255 years it has taken. Unbelievable.

Check out the tours available in Pompeii

Although I was ambivalent about visiting Pompei in the very beginning I’m so glad I did. Morose as it was to recall what happened to that area due to Mt. Vesuvius which can be seen standing oh so majestically less than 10 km away, most Pompeians did survive (1500-2000 out of 20,000 residents lost their lives) perhaps due to alerts from previous warning signs.

Again I’m glad I visited Pompeii. It was an amazing city + I pray that Vesuvius :: the most dangerous volcano in the world :: will never cause this kind of damage ever again.

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