A Relaxing Time in Sorrento

Sorrento is a nice little tourist town, with excellent transportation to the the islands off the coast, and good train service to anywhere in Italy (with transfers) and bus service to other towns. It is just a half-hour train ride to Pompeii, a half-hour hydrofoil to Naples, about a forty-minute boat trip to the Isle of Capri, a thrilling bus ride along the coast to Amalfi, and up in the hills to Ravello. Finally, do not miss a trip by train to Paestum, just south of Salerno to the Greek temples. All this was done at a leisurely pace in a span of five days with plenty of time to relax and still see Sorrento.

Quick Tips:

Try Lemoncello, the local aperitif of Sorrento made from lemons. It's a wonderful cure-all! The shopkeeper in the gourmet shop I stopped in said it's known to aid in digestion, is good for toothaches, great with gin or vodka, and mixed with a little sugar and water, is great drizzled on cakes for a lemon flavor. I am hooked!

Best Way To Get Around:

It is easiest to walk about in Sorrento, although if you are not used to hilly terrain, it will be more difficult. The little orange buses run locally. I took the orange bus down to the pier as well as up to Piazza Tasso on the return, as it's quite a walk down (and up) the several hundred feet of steps from Piazza Tasso to the pier level.

Bus (SITA blue buses) and train transportation is very inexpensive, costing under a euro or just a few euros for round-trip fares. The frequent trains and buses to other areas leave from the Circumvesuviana rail station just a long block north or Piazza Tasso. Driving would be a hassle with very narrow streets, few places to park, and crowds of people in the streets. The blue bus is the way to go to Amalfi or Sorrento. It is one harrowing trip up the hills on narrow winding roads and then along the coast. Better to sit back and enjoy the scenery.

The Savoia is a two-star hotel within a minute's walk from Piazza Tasso. Very clean, basic rooms with balconies--ours was in the back, looking out on a grove of lemon and orange trees. Breakfast was included: cappuccino or tea, orange juice, and a variety of breads. The hosts are very accommodating and made us feel very much at home. The rooms are on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors with an elevator.

Having tried the restaurants near Piazza Tasso, our wonderful host, Pepe, at the Hotel Savoia, suggested we go to Le Macine, a 1-minute walk up the hill from the hotel. The locals like the pizza which looked wonderful, but we never got around to ordering pizza. We ate here not once, but three times, enjoying the homemade gnocchi with a very light tomato sauce, pasta with clams, and some excellent veal dishes. Every dish was well prepared. We also spend New Year's Eve at Le Macine to celebrate the evening. The set menu included a seafood antipasto, ravioli with walnut sauce, a pasta with three cheeses, a course of jumbo fried shrimp, a beef filet in mushroom sauce, and dessert. I highly recommend Le Macine for pizza (as the locals do) and for a full meal at very reasonable prices.