Autumn Escape in Sorrento

Three days on the Sorrento Peninsula to make you feel relaxed.

It has to be said: ‘Winter is coming’.

But let’s not worry. The winter season is coming, but it’s not here yet!

As the autumn winds push our cities towards December, the air stings our cheeks in the mornings, and the trees dress themselves in one last red colour before felling the cold, there is still hope, we can still look for warm places. And there is one place that keeps the heat of summer longer than anywhere else: the beautiful Sorrento Coast.

Sorrento is one of the towns on the Divine Coast (as actress Anna Magnani called it in one of her films) that remain lively throughout the year, but it is special in those transitional moments between spring and summer and between autumn and winter.

It only takes three days to get into complete relaxation mode. The flight to Naples is very short, and afterwards, instead of renting a car (and pushing your luck driving on one of Italy’s busiest highways and most spectacular roads) we recommend the hydrofoil: in 50 minutes you arrive in Sorrento, and it feels like a mini-cruise in one of Italy’s most beautiful gulfs, the Gulf of Naples.

WHAT TO DO:
If you want to explore the area or have a longer stay, you can take a boat to Capri or Positano, or stay in Sorrento and go to the beautiful ruins of the Bagni della Regina Giovanna, a natural pool in the sea-beaten rocks.

If you just want to relax and chat with guests from all over the world, you can spend the entire weekend of your getaway between the hotel and the beach, which I especially recommend, as you’ll be forced to go out for dinner in the evening and have plenty of opportunities to see Sorrento.

Wander around the historic center, a maze of narrow streets with lots of shops and restaurants. There’s plenty to see: a real hidden gem is the 14th-century Cloister of the Church of San Francesco, which is great if you want to sit in the shade and fend off the midday heat. For a journey through space and time, visit the Nymphaeum of the ancient Roman villa of Agrippa Postumus, which is now part of the beach at the Bagni Salvatore beach resort.

Autumn is the best time to visit, avoiding the hassles of overcrowding. In the middle of the cliff rock there are man-made porticoes and sunken rooms adorned with mosaics. A truly beautiful sight.

You definitely can’t miss the Duomo, baroque on the inside and neo-Gothic on the outside. Or the Basilica of Sant’Antonino where the relics of the saint are kept.

You could also spend a relaxing afternoon at Villa Fiorentino, where there are often art exhibitions and events, but which also has a wonderful park famous for its flowers.

To complete your escape, you need a sunset. Here are some perfect spots: the always crowded but very romantic Villa Comunale and the Terrazza La Marinella in Sant’Agnello, the pretty town before Sorrento.

WHERE TO EAT:
Inn Bufalito is a modern bistro with an authentic feel, which, as the name suggests, offers many varieties of mozzarella and buffalo mozzarella, as well as many Neapolitan dishes.

The meals are light and creative and eating here will definitely enhance your holiday. If the weather is nice and there are seats available, try eating out: you could have lunch or dinner in one of Sorrento’s alleys. Try the buffalo ricotta and the lemon caprese cake. Inn Bufalito also has its own boutique ideal for gourmet shopping before you leave.

For a classic dinner by the sea, you can opt for Bagni Delfino, where the catch of the day is served in the small port of Marina Grande.

The view from this restaurant is simply priceless and the staff is simply amazing: even in the middle of the tourist madness they don’t stop being kind for a second. This is a truly classy place and the food is excellent.

If you are taking the scenic route from Sorrento to Positano, take the opportunity to have lunch in the magical bay of Nerano. There are many excellent restaurants. You will have the best spaghetti with zucchini of your life.

SHOPPING:
You can’t leave Sorrento without buying a limoncello, lemon soap and limoncello sweets to keep only in the fridge when you get home.

We recommend Terranova Factory Shop; you can go directly to the company or buy the products in the shop located in the city center.

But fortunately not all souvenirs are edible: the Sorrento Coast is also famous for its handmade sandals and Sangallo caftans.

Those of Sandali Siniscalchi are 100% customizable. Visit the shop to see the masterpieces.

Those of Antica Sartoria di Giacomo Cinque, on the other hand, are now famous all over the world (even in a small town in Florida there is a shop). But here you will find one of the first shops with a wide range of clothes and necklaces made of woven fabric.

For something really special, such as paintings, home accessories and futuristic jewelry, you have Unica Concept Store.

As you may already know, Campania is famous for its Christmas tradition, so in Sorrento there is a Christmas shop open all year round.