Sorrento

Sorrento, Italy

Population: 16500 Province: Campania

=Food= Sorrento is famous for its abundance of orange and lemon groves that color the hillsides and spill down to the sea. Limoncello is a celebrated Sorrento liquor made by marinating local lemon skins in alcohol and sugar.
 * Pasta
 * Bread
 * Wine

= = =Sports= The local football team is Sorrento Calico who play in the Stadio Italia, and have achieved promotion into Serie C1 of the Italian Football League. = = =Culture= Sorrento was the birthplace of the poet Torquato Tasso, author of the Gerusalemme Liberata. The town was quite famously featured in the early-20th-century song "Torna a Surrento" (Come Back to Sorrento) with lyrics by Gimbattista De Curtis, brother of the song's composer, Ernesto De Curtis. In the 1920s, famous Soviet writer Maxim Gorky lived in Sorrento. In the 1940s, widely renowned astro-physicist Ian Dickson lived in Sorrento. He owned one of the most expensive houses on the bay of Naples.
 * Golf
 * Outdoor activities
 * Water sports

=Geography=

Climate data for Sorrento || (54.5) || 13.2 (55.8) || 15.2 (59.4) || 18.2 (64.8) || 22.6 (72.7) || 26.2 (79.2) || 29.3 (84.7) || 29.5 (85.1) || 26.3 (79.3) || 21.8 (71.2) || 17.0 (62.6) || 13.6 (56.5) || 20.4 (68.8) || (38.8) || 4.3 (39.7) || 5.9 (42.6) || 8.3 (46.9) || 12.1 (53.8) || 15.6 (60.1) || 18.0 (64.4) || 17.9 (64.2) || 15.3 (59.5) || 11.6 (52.9) || 7.7 (45.9) || 5.1 (41.2) || 10.4 (50.8) || (4.1) || 99 (3.9) || 86 (3.4) || 76 (3.0) || 51 (2.0) || 33 (1.3) || 25 (1.0) || 41 (1.6) || 81 (3.2) || 130 (5.1) || 163 (6.4) || 122 (4.8) || 1,011 (39.8) ||
 * ~ Month ||~ Jan ||~ Feb ||~ Mar ||~ Apr ||~ May ||~ Jun ||~ Jul ||~ Aug ||~ Sep ||~ Oct ||~ Nov ||~ Dec ||~ Year ||
 * ~ Average high °C (°F) || 12.5
 * ~ Average low °C (°F) || 3.8
 * ~ [|Precipitation] mm (inches) || 104
 * //Source: [|[1]] // ||

=History of Through The Ages= Sorrento became an archbishopric around 420 AD. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it was ruled by the Ostrogoths and then returned to the Eastern Empire. The Lombards, who conquered much of southern Italy in second half of the 6th century, sieged it in vain.

In the following centuries the authority of the far Byzantium empire faded, Sorrento became an autonomous duchy. It fought against the rival Amalafi and the Saracens, and in 1133 it was conquered by the Norman Roger II of Hauteville, and thenceforth Sorrento's history followed that of the newly created Kingdom of Naples.

On June 13, 1558 it was sacked by elements of the Ottoman navy under the command of Dragut and his lieutenant Piali, as part of the struggle between the Turks and Spain, which controlled the southern half of Italy at that time. 2,000 captives were reportedly taken away. This struggle was waged throughout the Mediterranean and lasted many decades. The attackers were not "pirates" as often characterized, though some may have been mercenaries from North Africa. The campaigns were conducted on direct orders of Sultan Suleiman. The attack led to the construction of a new line of walls. The most striking event of the following century was the revolt against the Spanish domination of 1648, led by Giovanni Grillo. In 1656 a plague struck the city. However, Sorrento remained one of the most important centres of the southern Campania.

Sorrento entered into the Neapolitan Republic of 1799, but in vain. In the 19th century the economy of the city improved markedly, favoured by the development of agriculture, tourism and trade. A route connecting Sorrento to Castellammare di Stabia was opened under the reign of Ferdinand II (1830–1859). In 1861 Sorrento was officially annexed to the new Kingdom of Italy In the following years it confirmed and increased its status of one of the most renowned tourist destinations of Italy, a trend which continued into the 20th Century. Famous people who visited it include Lord Byron, Keats, Goethe, Henrik Ibsen and Walter Scott.

=Religion= The two main processions that take place in Sorrento on Good Friday are the Procession of Our Lady of Sorrows, organised by the Venerable Arciconfraternita of Saint Monica [|[1]] and the Procession of the Crucified Christ, organised by the Venerable Arciconfraternita of the Death.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The first procession takes place at 3:30 AM on Holy (Maundy) Thursday and involves hundreds of participants dressed in hooded white gowns. The Madonna is carried aloft in the procession and is accompanied by several religious articles as she searches the town looking for her son. The procession starts in Corso Italia, turns through Piazza Tasso, and then visits each of the town's churches - stopping in each one for a short ceremony. The Madonna is accompanied by aides carrying incense, and a large male choir and band. The procession concludes at 5:30 AM. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The second procession occurs at 8 PM on Good Friday and reflects the Madonna's mourning as she finds her son dead. Hundreds of participants, dressed this time in hooded black gowns, march down Corso Italia and then wind through the smaller lanes of Sorrento. This second procession is much larger and better attended.

=Ancient Influences= <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Many of the artist's influences came from the beliefs of the Romans; Roman morals and beliefs played a huge part in Sorrento's architectural structures and pieces.

= Art = <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Home and birthplace of many famous artist such as: Torquato Tasso, Gimbattista De Curtis, Ernesto De Curtis, Maxim Gorky, and etc.



=Famous Tourists= <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Some of the famous people who have visited Sorrento include Lord Byron, Keats, Goethe, Henrik Ibsen and Walter Scott.

=Architecture= <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">The Sorrento Cathedral was completed in 1474 and houses Renaissance frescoes painted by Neapolitan artists. The cathedral also contains the baptistery where the illustrious poet Torquato Tasso was baptized. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> == <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The Duomo (pictured above) is located on the Corso Italia, next to the Via Pietà, it is quite hard o miss. However, the simple exterior of Sorrento Cathedral really does not show the extravagant features that are found inside, where visitors discover some wonderful historic pieces created by local Neapolitan artists. Also inside is a dramatic Crucifixion, which stands high above the altar, is the triple-tiered bell tower, it is another important element.

==

=
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 11px;">The Piazza Tasso (pictured above) is found in the very heart of Sorrento. It is surrounded by many glorious examples of historical landmarks, such as both the Palazzo Correale and the Chiesa del Carmine. There is always something of interest happening around the Piazza Tasso, particularly during Easter, when an array of colourful parades and festivities are staged there. ====== *information found at []