Sorrento Itinerary
The Old Walls ~ photo
(Le Antiche Mura)
The only parts of the Greek defensive wall still remaining are located under the road at the New Parsano Gate (Porta Parsano Nuova) at Via Sersale and can still be viewed today. Another part of the Greek defensive wall located at the western end, is in Via Sopra Le Mura. It is only a small part that is around three metres. And there is also a small part located at the Marina Grande Gate. The Roman town was built over the Greek town following the same urban plans with walls of large isodomic blocks. These walls stood to defend Sorrento through the Middle Ages. The rebuilding of the walls began in 1551 and was only completed in 1561 after the tragic Turkish invasion.
Church of the Servants of Mary
(Chiesa dei Servi di Maria)
In Baroque style this church was completed in the 18th Century. The site of the congregation of the servants of Mary. Located inside the church is a large wooden statue of the dead Christ, which was done by an unknown sculptor. This statue is carried during every Good Friday procession by the members of the confratemity, dressed in black robes with hoods.
Cathedral
(Cattedrale)
In Romanic style the Cathedral dates back to the 15th Century. The side door of the Cathedral is in Renaissance style of the same period (1474). Inside the church can be found paintings by artist from the Neapolitan school of the 1700's, The Archbishops throne made from fine marbles (1573), and a wooden marquetry work of Sorrentine craftsmen from the beginning of the 19th Century. You can also find other examples of fine marquetry art inside the church which have been completed by recent young masters, such as the Stations of the Cross and the wooden panels of the main and side entrance doors.
Cathedrals Belltower and The Bishop's Palace ~ photo
(Campanile del Duomo, Episcopio)
The part of the Belltower that is most noteworthy is it's base. Which is from the Romanic era, with various types of columns. Built around the 6th Century, alternating between Classic and Byzantine capitals with a base of statues which include many different types of marble fragments. The Belltower plays an important role in the towns urban history because the small spaces located under the raised arches and the adjoining bend of Via Pietà at at the begining of the Bishops palace were used for Public gatherings, which were originally held inside the castle. It is thought that the upper part of the Belltower was reduced or rebuilt to its present size around the 15th Century.
Fifteenth Century House ~ photo
(Casa Quattrocentesca)
The only examples of local architecture derived from the influx of Tuscan experts working in the Naples area, around the second half of the 1400's are the small building with lodge in Vico Galantarario. The capitals that can be found in a Neapolitan staircase in Via S. Arcangelo a Baiano, and those of The Pontano Chapel with the only variation of leaf placed inside out.
Correale Palace (14th Century)
(Palazzo Correale)
The facade of this building exhibits valuable acute-arched mullioned windows in various shapes and designs with small arches and lobed rosewindows constructed from dark tufo. One of the beautiful large windows has an overhanging pointed arch which rests on polystyle piers upheld by corbers and crowned with Gothic capitals of acanthus leaves. Incised in the keystone of the arch is the coat-of-arms. The portal is characteristically Neapolitan. A depressed arch with Durazzesque Catalan patterns and was used from the end of the 1300's all throught the 1400's.
Veniero Palace (13th Century)
(Palazzo Veniero)
This building is of exceptional rarity and worth. Even despite the alterations that it has undergone over the centuries, and the abandoned state that it is found in today, with all its windows that have been walled over. This building represents the late Byzantine and Arab taste which are uniquelly drafted in compositive organic continuity. The three main arched windows located on each floor are surrounded by wide fillet in grey and yellow tufo, then two narrower fillet are used as floor markers underline the two rows of windows and round tiles, like small rose-windows with majolica paterae in the centre, alternate at the openings with a slightly raised contour at the base of the plaster. The inlaid tufo decoration develops a succession of lozenges with the exception of the central window whose freize follows a zig-zag motif.
The Correale House in Tasso Square
(Casa Correale in Piazza Tasso)
In the main square of Sorrento 'Tasso Square' which was once called the 'Largo of the Castle'. At the corner where Via Pietà beg begins another Correale Palace is located. The inscription on the portal's marble scroll bears the date 1768 but it is known that as early as the 15th Century a house belonging to this family stood here and was later totally transformed by the 17th Century reconstruction.
The Church of Carmine ~ photo
(Chiesa del Carmine)
The church of Carmine was reconstructed at the end of the 15th Century on the remains of a ancient church that was dedicated to the sacred sorrentine Martys. The church has a single nave, and located at the end there is an ancient impression of Mary. It is a copy of the dark skinned Virgin of the church of the same Saint in Naples. There are also some other good examples of paintings from the 16th and 17th Centurys. Also located inside the church is two artistic gilded wooden bone containers of Saints which date back to the 16th Century.
Porta Seat (16th Century)
(Sedile di Porta)
Originally located at the corner of Via S. Cesareo and the Tasso Square, where today there is the Sorrentine club, was the second seat called the Porta because it was located by the citys main gate of the area then called Largo del Castello. After the abolition of the seats this area was turned into a prison. Following that it was used as a guard house. Then as it is found at its present state a meeting place for the Sorrentine Club.
Basilica of St. Antonino ~ photo
(Basilica di S. Antonino)
The Basilica of St. Antonino dates back to the 11th Century. Originally in the same location there was an oratory dedicated to St. Antonino from the 9th Century. There are many different elements from plunders which include the column shafts that are thought to have originated from a portico of one of the Roman Villas in the area. Inside the crypt that was rebuilt in the 1700's there can be found many ex-voto paintings. The subject of most of the paintings are sailors. Also located in the church is the Crib from the Sammartino school that dates back to the 18th Century, and the southern portail in Byzantine-Romanic form that dates back to the 9th Century.
The Church of St. Mary of Miracles
(Chiesa della Grazie)
At the end of the 15th Century, the church of St. Mary of Miracles was founded by the nobile Sorrentine Lady Berardina Donnorso. Included in the church is a convent of a closed order of Dominican Nuns. The church has a single nave. Prestigous works from southern italian painters of the 15th to 17th Century can be found inside the church, such as B. Corenzio, M. Malinconico, S. Buono and P. Caracciolo.
Church and Cloister of St. Francis ~ photo
(Chiesa e Chiostro di S. Francesco)
The Monastery dates back to the first half of the 8th Century. The architecture of the cloisters is expressed in the late 1300's style, it represents crossed arches that are located at two sides of the portico and are made of tufo. On the other two sides of the portico the crossed arches are substituted with rounded arches on octagonal pilasters. Certain elements from plunders of pagan temples are re-used in the construction such as the three corner columns. Located next to the convent is the church of St. Francis which dates back to the 16th Century. Located inside the church and which was donated by the Vulcano family in the 17th Century can be found a wooden statue of the saint with Christ.
Part of the House of Tasso
(Parte della casa del Tasso)
Part of the house where Torquato Tasso was born in 1544 can still be found today. He was the author of 'Jerusalem Liberated'. There remains only two original rooms. They are located near the entrance to the Imperial Tramontano Hotel on the right side of the road when travelling towards Vittoria Square.
Church of the Rosary
(Chiesa del Rosario)
Formely known as the church of St. Felice and Baccolo, today commonly referred to as St. Rosary. The church was built on the remains of an old pagan temple called Pantheon under the empire of Constantine the Great. The church was Sorrentos cathedral between the 12th Century till the 15th Century.
House of Cornelia Tasso
(Casa di Cornelia Tasso)
Located at Via S. Nicola, 11. The Fasulo House was originally the Sersale House. It has a ashlar-work portico and a small quaint balcony. Inside the entrance of the hall there is a vault which is decorated with stems, military trophies and inscriptions from 1615 in memory of the poet Torquato Tasso. His sister Cornelia Tasso lived in the house with Marzio Sersale's wife and sons. In july of 1577 Torquato escaped from the castle of Ferrara and embarked at Gaeta. Disguised as the poets messenger he arrived at the house, revealing his identity at a later date.
Church and Monastery of St. Paul
(Chiesa e Monastero di S. Paolo)
Dating back to the 9th Century, the church is attached to the old monastery of the Benedictine nuns of St. Paul. The church consists of a single aisle with circular vault and lunettes. It is enriched by decorations, stuccoes, some 17 Century paintings and a majolica floor layed over brickwork. Another main feature of the church is the small belvedere belltower and the cupola in majolica.
Dominova Seat ~ photo
(Sedile Dominova)
The only remaining testimony in Campania of the old noble seats. It dates back to the 16th Century. The Dominova seat has a quadrilateral form with two corner arches made of piperno (lava), which allows the view of the interior of the cupola and end walls which have 18th Century frescoes. The pilasters and polystyle arches with their capotals are in archaic style. The 17th Century cupola is formed by green and yellow majolica roof-tiles.
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