Sea, Pizza and the Scent of Lemons

Agritourism in the province of Naples

Is it possible to ignore the poets, writers and singers who over the centuries have extolled the beauty of one of the most magical places on earth? Strolling along the streets of Sorrento, your head filled with the scent of lemons, glimpsing in the distance a patch of blue where the sky and sea meet in a single embrace, you might well feel the same emotions as the ancient writers when they contemplated the beauty of the place and felt the urgent call of the Muse.

Despite having become a world-famous tourist destination, a beach paradise for Americans, British and Germans, Sorrento still surprises and delights the visitor. Reminiscent of a movie set, there are views that were the background for famous old films like Sophia Loren and Vittorio De Sica's Pane, Amore e... Worth visiting are the 15th-century Romanesque cathedral and Piazza Tasso, the main square with its statue of the renowned 16th-century poet Torquato Tasso, Sorrento's native son.

A walk along Via della Pietà reveals a proud display of architectural beauty: Palazzo Veniero, Palazzo Correale and the Loggia di Vico Galantariaro.

But above all else, it is the atmosphere that makes Sorrento and nearby Piano di Sorrento unique – where we recommend a stop at Castello Colonna from 1872, and Villa Lauro, one of the best examples of neoclassical architecture in the region. The dazzling colours, the riot of green and blue, the old workshops made from wood where you'll hear the soft background music from the handmade musical boxes and the unmistakable notes of the famous song "Come Back to Sorrento".

The Sorrento Peninsula is a place where the soul regains a true sense of beauty, harmony with nature and appreciation of the perfumes and flavours that awaken love and curiosity: delicious Sorrento Limoncello, DOP extra virgin olive oil and the celebrated pizza from nearby Vico Equense. Everywhere in the area you can taste first class local products, such as pork and orange peel sausage and salami, dairy products like the creamy caciottine filled with butter, and the famous Provolone del Monaco DOP. It's been said that if you've never tasted the pizza from Vico Equense you've never eaten pizza at all and, boast though it may, there is no doubt at all that the town is a gastronomic miracle.

Not to mention nearby Gragnano, another place of worship for gourmets. Here the pasta is still extruded through bronze dies, the symbol of a culinary tradition that emphasizes excellence.

A few kilometres away is Pozzuoli, one of the few towns in the world to house two Roman amphitheatres, the Flavian Amphitheatre and the Lesser Amphitheatre. Located on the Gulf of Pozzuoli, the town is situated in the volcanic area of Campi Flegrei (burning fields), which includes the still active Solfatara volcano.

If you want to wake up to a delicious breakfast complete with traditional citrus marmalades and jams, then continue the day exploring the wonders of art and nature, tasting the best of traditional Italian cuisine, you just have to book a holiday in one of the agritourisms in the province of Naples, where you'll receive the warm welcome and hospitality that are absolute hallmarks of the region.

Did you know that ...?

Lake Avernus (Averno in Italian), situated in the Campi Flegrei near Pozzuoli, lies in an extinct volcanic crater. It was formed 4000 years ago and Virgil claimed it was the door to the Underworld, while Homer tells the story that Odysseus was sent there to visit the realm of the dead. In fact, the lake is rather gloomy and its Greek name means "without birds" because the fumes of carbon dioxide and sulphurous gases rising from the lake tend to limit all animal life. In addition, "Adiabene", the name of the area surrounding Lake Avernus, can be interpreted as "goodbye to what is good", meaning both literally and in a broad sense a place beyond which lies death. The ancient legends are revived each year in a series of theatrical events where actors play characters such as Aeneas, Odysseus and the Sibyls. These pageants often end with tastings of fine wines and local products.