Sorrento

Sorrento  Foto Gallery  1  of  6  back  next

Sorrento was probably founded by the Greeks and it was under the Etruscan influence for a certain period of time, then, for a longer period, under the influence of another Italic people: the Oschi.
During the Roman age it was known as Surrentum and it was remembered for its role in the revolt of the Italic people (90 B.C.); later it was the seat of the government of the Menenia tribe. It become the Bishop's seat from 420 A.D. When the Bizantine Empire started its decline in Italy, Sorrento became a dukedom, first as dependency of the dukes of Naples, then under the local counts and dukes, who were always fighting against Amalfi, Salerno and the Sarcens.
Sorrento, together with the other towns of Campania, took part in the battle against the Muslims. It fought against the Longobardi from Benevento and it was also involved in family fights among the local nobles.
In the IX century the dukedom of Sorrento was forced by Guaimario, the prince of Salerno, to accept his brother Guido as its duke, and the town could only obtain its own independence after the death of Guido.
In 1137, however, Sorrento lost its independence and it was subjected to follow the laws of the new Norman reign, which often caused conflicts especially during the Aragon Period. In 1558 it was attacked and sacked by the Turks; in the winter of 1648 the town was besieged by Giovanni Grillo, the general of the duke of Guisa.

The old town's ruins

Tombs and parts of an old city wall (which date back to the old Greek an Oscan town of Sorrento) can still be seen today.
Some pagan objects have been found which prove the existence of a temple in honour of Athena on Punta della Campanella (The Sorrentine Peninsula headland).
The most famous villas of the Roman Age are Agrippa Postumo's villa with a waterlily fishpond, and artificial wharfs; the villa at Capo di Sorrento (known as Queen Giovanna's baths); the villa at Punta of Massa; and the villa at Punta della Campanella.