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of the SORRENTO SIRENS
| A splendid and famous holiday resort,
Sorrento stands on a terrace rising steeply above the sea on one of the most
spectacular points of the Campanian coast. Because of its enchanting position
and mild climate, sheltered by the surrounding hills, Sorrento has been a
favorite resort since Romans times, (Agrippa, Augustus and Antonius all had
villas here) and it became an elite tourist resort from the eighteenth century,
its hotels welcoming such luminaries as Ibsen, Wagner and Nietzche. Linked to the enchanting beauty of the
place is the tradition whereby the name of Sorrento originates from the mythical
mermaids whose soft singing tempted Ulysses and his crew in the Odyssey. (The
mermaids/siren myth is thought to have evolved from pirate's wives who,
standing on the beach, tried to lure sailors ashore to be done in by
their husbands.) The
site on which the town stands, probably founded by the Greek colonies, was
already inhabited in prehistoric times. |
Sorrento is not on the Amalfi coast, but it is a great place from which to
start your adventure. Sorrento is famous for Limoncello
(isn't every place in Italy), blown glass and inlayed wood.
From
the piazza.
This
artistic shot gives me nausea. But, I took it and someone, that's you, is
going to see it.
Inlay is almost painting in wood. You can spend $20 to
$20,000, depending on the size, quality and your tastes.
| Note: Good inlay does not have any dark spaces between one
piece of wood and the next. Cheap stuff does. |
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