Sorrento Holidays

Sorrento’s the star of the show in these parts, no matter what the likes of Naples and Positano tell you. Its postcode on the Neapolitan Riviera captures all-in-one views of Mount Vesuvius and the island-dotted bay. The town itself comes up trumps, too, with pizzas like nothing you’ve tasted before, and a shabby chic feel to the buzzy centre.

Golden sands aren’t Sorrento’s forte, but its double-helping of marinas more than makes up for it. Pink and yellow townhouses tumble down to Marina Grande, where the waterfront’s peppered with fishing boats, seafood restaurants and wooden bathing platforms. Flit along the coast to Marina Piccola, and you’ll find luxury yachts bobbing at the foot of the hotel-topped cliffs.

The twisting lanes of the old town are like an Italian-style Aladdin’s cave. Gelato bars clamour for your attention, while the family-run boutiques are overflowing with every-colour shoes, scarves and handbags. Historic buildings pop up along the way, and there’s no shortage of places to take five with a chilled tot of limoncello – Piazza Tasso’s the most popular of the lot. The nooks, crannies and cloisters of the San Francesco Monastery are worth a mosey round, too.

It’s easy to go exploring on holidays to Sorrento. Hop on a ferry, and you can reach the pretty island of Capri in around half an hour. The to-do list at this celebrity fave includes taking boat trips to the Blue Grotto, riding the chairlift to the island’s highest point, and maxing out your credit card in the designer stores. Back on the mainland, historic sites like Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius and Herculaneum share the spotlight with the stunning Amalfi Coast.