"Maybe I will come back..........." a Sorrento Travel Page by leics

I'll be honest..........I didn't deliberately choose to visit Sorrento for itself. The first trip in 2008 was to see Pompeii, and Herculaneum, and other ancient sites. I didn't fancy staying in Naples, so Sorrento presented itself as a possibility because of the Circumvesuviana train, and the local bus services.

As I visited out of season (as I prefer) I found a really nice and very reasonably-priced hotel: the Hotel Savoia (my second trip was based in an equally nice and equally well-priced hotel, the Mignon Meuble). And because I usually travel out-of-season I wasn't too surprised to find that many places in Sorrento (restaurants etc) were closed, but that is something to be aware of if you plan to visit in winter.

So what did I think of Sorrento? Well, for a place so obviously geared up for tourism and day-trips it maintains its own character very well, I think. Maybe this wouldn't be so obvious in high season, but I did like the way it felt like the ordinary working town it clearly is.

I liked the Medieval street pattern which still remains, and the narrow alleyways, and the deep clefts which separate chunks of the town. I liked searching out the Roman remains incorporated into the bell-tower and the Cloisters of St. Francis, was fascinated by the votive objects in the crypt of the Basilica S. Antonino and found a little of the original ancient Greek defensive wall under the Medieval structure at Porta Parsano Nuova.

But there's not a vast amount to see in terms of history; a leisurely day visit would easily cover all the main sites. And I'm not a shopper, so I wasn't particularly interested in browsing the limoncello shops, or the beauiful marquetry on show, or the shops which sell 'typical' products. But I know thousands are, and the income they generate is vital to this area, so I have no objection to so much time and effort being devoted to the tourist trade.

I ate some good gelati, some excellent cakes from Paticceria Monica on Via Fiuorimura (it had huge queues of locals on S. Antonino's day, so must be good), had perfectly satisfactory salads/pizza in a local bar. I wandered the streets, explored a couple of churches..........and spent most of my time elsewhere, one way or another.

So, what I think I'm saying is this:

For me, being not really interested in the 'usual' touristy stuff, in spending money or in wandering aimlessly, Sorrento out of season provided a convenient and pleasant base for my explorations. It had everything I needed, and some pretty stunning views. I suspect I wouldn't like it in summer, no doubt entirely stuffed with crowds and coach tours.

But that's me: thousands of others will, no doubt, have entirely the opposite opinion!

The second trip was for me to introduce my friend to the area (took her to Rome last year). Freezing cold in February 2009, with snow on Vesuvius and a landslide reducing our planned Amalfi coast bus ride to a Positano visit......but she enjoyed herself.

And I realised I'll have to go back another time, to see Naples properly, and Herculaneum again, and some other Roman sites....and maybe ven get up Vesuvius.

Probably next February. I'll take more clothes with me and that way I can be certain the weather will be warmer! :-)