Sorrento is a resort town--its main claim to fame may be the famous people who have stayed there over the years, including the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, the composer Richard Wagner and the writer Maxim Gorky. Sorrento contains several churches and cathedrals and the Museo Correale de Terranova, which contains examples of the local inlaid woodwork as well as archeological finds and pictures of the Bay of Naples. The Marina Piccola and Marina Grande provide seaside charm.
Perhaps the greatest attraction of Sorrento is not the town itself but its proximity to several other tourist attractions. Sorrento is a half hour to an hour away from the Roman ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum and the towns of the beautiful Amalfi Coast. The islands of Ischia and Capri are easily reached by ferry. Naples is also nearby and Rome can be reached in a few hours by bus, car or train.
Sorrento is famous for its limoncello--a strong liqueur flavored with the rinds of the Sorrento lemon (although any lemon can be used, the Sorrento lemon is preferred). Limoncello is traditionally drunk straight as a digestif (after-dinner drink) in Italy. In the rest of the world, limoncello has become more popular with the general popularity of Italian cuisine. It's also become a popular ingredient in cocktails. You can buy souvenir limoncello in Sorrento and in surrounding areas, often in decorative bottles. Crema di Limoncello is a milder version of limoncello that contains milk.
