One of the things I have loved about living in Sorrento is how I can enjoy the town during the week, yet also have the opportunity to travel over the weekend.

This past weekend though, I stayed in Sorrento and spent some more time exploring the town to find the best places to sit and relax, as well as catch up on some work to prepare for my midterm exams!

Having some homework to complete and also wanting to get outside, I was set on finding some of the best places in Sorrento to sit and do some work while enjoying the beautiful surroundings.

Piazza della Vittoria

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Early in the morning I found myself in Piazza della Vittoria on a park bench looking toward Mt. Vesuvius across the water.

Located between Marina Grande and Marina Piccola, this piazza has a quaint garden with flowers and palm trees.

In the center of the piazza there is also a monument dedicated to World War One that was created by Francesco Jerace in 1926.

On the same level as the monument is a terrace where I sat on park bench to admire the Gulf of Naples while starting on my homework.

Getting hungry for breakfast, I went to a bar to drink a cappuccino and got a “graffa” to-go.

Cloister of San Francesco

Then, breakfast in hand, I wandered into the Cloister of San Francesco

This tranquil 14th-century monastery is located next to the church of the same name.

Inside, the courtyard features a large tree surrounded by lush greenery draped and wrapped around the pillars and fragrant flowers along the outskirts.

Sitting on the ledge of one of the arches, I continued my work while watching as the salamanders scurried below me and seagulls flew overhead.

I love going to the Cloister di San Francesco for a serene place away from the ever-growing crowds in Sorrento

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Corso Italia and the Valley of the Mills

Getting a little bit hungry for lunch, I decided to take a break from studying.

I got a sandwich from a salumeria and went to sit on the park benches on Corso Italia just outside of the Cathedral.

One of my favorite things to do is people-watch, and this is the perfect place to sit and relax on the main strip of Sorrento. 

My final stop for the day was just a short walk away from Piazza Tasso to the Valley of the Mills.

This historic valley dates all the way back to the 10th century and features a saw and flour mill.

In 1866 when Piazza Tasso was built, the valley was isolated from the sea.

This created a very humid environment in that area, leading it to eventually be abandoned and allowing rare plant species such as Phillitus Vulgaris (a kind of fern) to thrive there. 

I love how you can walk through Sorrento and find so much history everywhere you go.

Walking along Corso Italia, one would never know of this abandoned mill they could see that is only 150 meters away.

No matter how long you are in Sorrento, each day there is someplace new to go or exciting to experience.

I am so grateful to have so many wonderful places to relax and enjoy the surroundings in Sorrento that make doing schoolwork so much more enjoyable!

This just scratches the surface of great places to visit in Sorrento and there are also so many others in the surrounding towns that I am looking forward to exploring!