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Sorrento is situated in the north of
the Sorrentina peninsula.It is undoubtedly one of the most
well-known destinations for foreign tourists.The special charm that
distinguishes it from any other town is represented above all by its
particular morphology.
Sorrento stands on high cliffs of tuff, which were formed from water
erosion, giving them their present aspect.
The earliest evidence of human settlement in the Sorrento Peninsula
indicates Greek and Phoenician activity, however, this fertile land
was soon taken over as a Roman colony, until the final collapse of
the Empire. In the Middle Ages (c. 9th century AD), Sorrento managed
to release herself from outside control, including Naples, and thus
the Duchy of Sorrento was born.
In 1558 Sorrento underwent a violent invasion by the Turks. The city
was sacked and the population suffered severe losses.
At around the start of the 18th century, after a period of bitter
struggles between the peasant population and rich landowners,
Sorrento began to emerge as a popular tourist resort, much loved by
visitors from all over the world for its mild climate and
flourishing countryside. By 1800, Sorrento's economy was based
primarily on tourism and the wood inlay industry, which gradually
took over from the production of silk textiles. Over the years
Sorrento has been the favorite destination of such luminaries of
European culture as Lord Byron, Keats, Goethe, Dickens, Wagner,
Ibsen and Nietzsche. |
