The town
overlooks the bay of Naples, as the key
place of the Sorrentine Peninsula, and many
viewpoints in the city allow sight of Naples
itself (visible across the bay), Vesuvius
and the island of Capri
The Roman name for Sorrento was Surrentum.
Legends indicate a close connection between
Lipara and Surrentum, as though the latter
had been a colony of the former; and even
through the Imperial period Surrentum
remained largely Greek. The oldest ruins are
Oscan, dating from about 600 BC. Before the
Roman supremacy, Surrentum was one of the
towns subject to Nuceria, and shared its
fortunes up to the Social War; it seems to
have joined in the revolt of 90 BC like
Stabiae; and was reduced to obedience in the
following year, when it seems to have
received a colony.
Sorrento is famous for the production of
limoncello, an alcoholic digestif made from
lemon rinds, alcohol, water and sugar. Other
agricultural production includes citrus
fruit, wine, nuts and olives. Wood
craftsmanship is also developed.
