Soak up the atmosphere of Sorrento’s main square, where modern life meets ancient history around every corner.
It sometimes seems that all roads lead to Piazza Tasso. This bustling square is the hub of Sorrento life, and one of the first stops on most visitors’ itineraries. People come here to shop, eat and drink, meet friends, take an evening stroll, or just sit and watch the world go by.During the day the traffic can be intense, as locals hurry on their way to work or college, and visitors negotiate the network of sightseeing buses that use the square as their pick-up point. One of the best ways to get your bearings on first arrival is to hop on the tourist train, which takes you on a whistle-stop tour of all the main points of interest in the old town as well as the port of Marina Piccola. The 30-minute ride costs just a few euro and the audio commentary is in several languages, including English.Back at the piazza, you’ll be in the mood for some more in-depth sightseeing, so take a walk around the square to admire the statues – notably those of its namesake, Torquato Tasso, the famous 16th-century Renaissance poet who was born in Sorrento, and the city’s patron saint, St Antoninus.Piazza Tasso is surrounded by historic buildings, many of them dating back several centuries. The Baroque church of Santa Maria del Carmine is well worth a second look for its striking yellow-and-white stucco façade, stained glass and painted frescoes.Leading off the square is a network of narrow lanes where you can shop for souvenirs and other goodies. Wander along Via San Cesareo, Sorrento’s main shopping street, to admire its Neapolitan Baroque shopfronts and find something unusual to take home.Piazza Tasso changes pace in the evening, when cars give way to pedestrians heading out for something to eat and drink at one of the many lively bars and restaurants that fringe the square. This is a favourite haunt of locals taking a stroll in the warm dusky air, meeting friends at the gelateria or sharing a late-night glass of grappa.
