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| Sorrento Coast: events between the sky and the sea |
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A large conference hotel and many historic luxury hotels have put Sorrento on the international map. Attractions nearby include the famous villages of the Sorrento Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast, manor houses, a medieval castle that can be put to many uses and the Lemons Trail.
 
Sorrento has always been an international tourist destination. Set on a large rocky terrace overlooking the sea, this small town is known for its historic villas, gardens and the labyrinth of alleys crammed with multicoloured shops and lively nightspots, as well as its characteristic citrus orchards and view over the Gulf of Naples.
Sorrento gives its name to the 30 km stretch of coast extending from the mountainous landscape of Vico Equense to Massa Lubrense, which, looking out towards the island of Capri, is a natural oasis with enchanting beaches and 22 walking routes through the Mediterranean scrub. A little further up, at the beginning of the Sorrento Peninsula and in the centre of the Gulf of Naples, lies Castellammare di Stabia, a town famous for its 28 mineral water springs (www.termedistabia.com) and for the Roman villas uncovered by archaeological excavations. Italy’s largest tourist port was opened here, with 1,400 berths, in the summer of 2007. This was the first step in the building of a larger complex called Marina di Stabia, a “small city” comprising hotels, conference centres, restaurants and cinemas, currently at the planning stage.
In Sorrento, aristocratic residences sit beside top-quality modern hotels, designed for large numbers and very popular among conference organisers. The Hilton Sorrento Palace stands out, being one of the largest conference hotels in the Mediterranean, with 377 rooms and a conference centre with a 1,500-seater plenary hall. Medium-sized players include the Hotel Parco dei Principi and the Hotel La Residenza, both set in botanic gardens, and the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, which in 2007 opened a holistic spa in the old glasshouse surrounded by olive and orange trees.
In the village of Sant’Agnello, two kilometres from Sorrento, is the Grand Hotel Cocumella, which, housed in a 17th century convent, organises tours along the coast on a period sailing ship and tastings of typical produce, such as buffalo mozzarella in the dairies and limoncello, the lemon-based liqueur, in the wineries. In Castellammare di Stabia, the Crowne Plaza Stabiae Sorrento Coast deserves a mention; following the conversion of a former industrial building right on the sea, this hotel was opened recently, and has a spa and a meeting centre. |
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 Lemons and pirates
Sorrento is also a convenient departure point for spots of rare beauty located in its immediate vicinity. These include the inlets of the protected marine area of Punta Campanella, a stretch of coast between the Sorrento Peninsula and Capri, famous for its seagrass beds, wrecks and caves, ideal for diving. A few kilometres away, on the other side of the peninsula, is the Amalfi Coast, with its characteristic villages overlooking the sea known worldwide: Amalfi, Positano, Ravello and Vietri sul Mare.
An itinerary worth mentioning is the Sentiero dei Limoni (the Lemons Trail). This fruit is the product that best represents this land and reflects its spirit, in its vibrant colour, intense fragrance, and sharp, lingering taste. The itinerary takes in various lemon orchards: Tenuta Il Pizzo estate in Sant’Agnello, with a 16th century manor house and a walk with a seaview, and Villa Massa in Piano di Sorrento. This was the first farm in the early 1990s to relaunch the production of limoncello, the liqueur based on lemon rind, and visitors have an opportunity to see how it is made. The trip then continues to the orchards of Aranceto Storico Sorrentino, where visitors sample citrus-based infusions, and ends among the narrow streets of Sorrento at the Il Buco restaurant, where chef Michele di Leo dedicates an entire menu to the town’s fragrant fruit.
Alternatively, DMC Solaria Service proposes an incentive programme called the “Landing of the Saracens” (for groups of up to 80 people): it takes place over the course of an evening on a beach or in the sea, with participants reliving the period when Saracen pirates raided the Sorrento Peninsula. They are also treated to dances and music of a typical fishing village in the region. Solaria Service also exclusively manages the 9th century medieval castle of Castellammare di Stabia which, as well as hosting gala dinners (150 seats inside, 650 outside), product launches and conferences, is used by the DMC for a series of activities, including the “Light treasure hunt”, with its memorable stage effects: for each problem solved by participants, a certain section of the castle is illuminated, first a tower, then the well and so on, until the whole building is bathed in light.
July 2008 |
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