What comes to your mind when you think of Italy? Fashion connoisseurs think of Versace and Armani, wine lovers dream of the excellent Tuscany wines, history aficionados visualise the magnificent art collections and architecture of Rome, Venice and Florence, and who can stop thinking of the pizza and the pasta!



But Italy is not limited to just Rome, Milan, Florence and Venice. Italy which has always been a melting pot of cultures, languages and traditions has a distinctly different and equally, if not more, charming Southern region. Its charm lies in its weather, its cuisine, its history and most of all its promise to show the travellers the real Italy, often missed among the picture-perfect scenes of Florence and Venice.

One of the best places for experiencing the enchanting beauty of southern Italy is Sorrento. This resort town dates back almost two thousand years. It is a small but perfectly formed town in the picturesque Campania region of Italy and is strategically located close to Naples, the beautiful island of Capri, and the historic ruins at Pompeii.

Sorrento vacations are especially popular among tourists for the relaxed lifestyle, pleasant weather and delicious local cuisine that are characteristic of this place. Sorrento incidentally is the birth place of the Limoncello liqueur. Besides, its spectacular views, the famed sea cliffs and the slopes looking over azure waters to Ischia, Capri and the Bay of Naples are known the world over.

As for leisure activities, this small town offers some good diving, great sea fishing, boat cruises and appetizing restaurants.

So far as affordable accommodation is concerned, there is no dearth of lodging places here catering to all types of budgets, right from exclusive resorts to friendly and comfortable Sorrento bed & breakfast.

Amongst famous people who found their Sorrento vacations worthwhile are the British authors Lord Byron and Keats, the German author Goethe, the Russian author Maxim Gorky, and the Italian opera singers Enrico Caruso and Luciano Pavarotti.

Once you have experienced the delights of Sorrento, you can also go visiting the nearby attractions such as:

Pompeii: Here lie the remains of the world's most famous volcanic disaster. As many history students know, the town of Pompeii was left devastated by the volcanic eruptions of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Since the town got totally buried under the mountain of volcanic ash, the ruins and even the organic remains are perfectly preserved, giving an amazing glimpse into the daily life of an average Roman town over two thousand years ago. This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is just 20 minutes away from Sorrento and the easiest way to get there is via the Circumventia trains which run about every half hour, both ways. This place is vast and can take anything from 2 hours to a whole day to explore, depending upon your particular level of interest in archeological sites.

Vesuvius: This is the volcano, which caused so much havoc some 2000 years ago and make no mistake, it is still active. In fact this is the only active volcano in continental Europe, and one can see steam emanating from its depths. This is one of not-to-be-missed sites when you are on a Sorrento vacation. The thrills of standing on the top of a rumbling volcano and the panoramic views of the picturesque Bay of Naples make this trip a once in a lifetime experience.

To reach there, just catch a train from Sorrento to Ercolano station which will take some 20 minutes and walk to the peak from there.

Amalfi Coast: Amalfi coast offers the best of Mediterranean views. This stunning coast is situated on the southern side of Italy's Sorrentine Peninsula and is famous for its mysterious grottos, craggy cliffs and shimmering bays. To soak in the picture perfect scenery, take a regional bus passing through the fabled route from artsy Positano to Amalfi.

A Sorrento vacation is incomplete without visit to Amalfi coast and if you find the place a little too bustling for your taste, just find a comfortable Sorrento accommodation such as Sorrento bed & breakfast and you are all set for some memorable vacations.

I have just given you a glimpse of what you can do and explore on your Sorrento holidays. In my next article, I will discuss some more attractions in and around Sorrento.