Sorrento is a beautiful gem of a town on the Amalfi Coast. Facing out onto the bay of Naples, it is perched atop a cliff, boasting sweeping views over the coast, at the base of which there is a busy marina. This stacking of the town gives it that distinct and picture-perfect look that lots of the towns in the area have: glittering water with bobbing boats topped by rows of colourful buildings. The charming old town is a warren of little streets and alleys that are lined with pretty historic buildings but amongst all of the pretty parts that make up this picturesque town, one of the most charming and unmissable sights and sites is the Chiesa di San Francesco and its lovely cloister. If you have found a vacation rental in Sorrento and you are exploring the town, be sure to duck in for a moment amidst your holiday wanderings and fun and enjoy a spot of tranquillity in the most fairytale-like of settings in Italy.
Located in the historic centre of the town, in Piazza Francesco Saverio Gargiulo, right next to the Villa Comunale Park, this 14th-century church with said iconic cloisters abutting it is famous for its Arabic portico and interlaced arches, which are interwoven with flowers, plants, and ornamental trees. The beautiful space is also often filled with birdsong, particularly in spring, as it is very popular amongst feathered locals.
Located in the historic centre of the town, in Piazza Francesco Saverio Gargiulo, right next to the Villa Comunale Park, this 14th-century church with said iconic cloisters abutting it is famous for its Arabic portico and interlaced arches, which are interwoven with flowers, plants, and ornamental trees. The beautiful space is also often filled with birdsong, particularly in spring, as it is very popular amongst feathered locals.
Part of the Convent Complex of San Francesco d’Assisi, made up of a church, monastery, and the cloisters, it was built in 1623 upon the commission of some of the town’s wealthiest and most powerful patrons. It is no surprise then, that such a structure is so impressive and lovely that it continues to impress visitors and tourists to this day. Mixing Baroque and Arabic styles, it is a charming architectural gem that looks like something plucked from the pages of a fairytale of the Arabian world and offers visitors a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of Sorrento for a moment. Come and be transported back in time, take in the heady scent of the plants and the trees, admire the architectural brilliance, and relish in the overall beauty of this space. Heck, depending on how much you like it, you can even get married there if you so wish!
It is free of charge to enter this space but do keep in mind that it is part of a religious complex and, as such, like in other religious buildings in Italy, one is expected to follow a respectfully conservative dress code. If you are not dressed accordingly, you will simply not be granted access. This dress code means, simply, covered knees and shoulders, i.e. no tank tops or above-the-knee shorts, skirts, or dresses. As long as you follow these rules, there should be no problem at all! Opening hours can be found posted to the exterior of the building.
While visiting the site, you might also pop upstairs to the Sorrento International Photo School, where there are often various exhibitions of photographers in the Gallery Celentano, such as the black-and-white photographs of Italian life and landscapes by local photographer Raffaele Celentano. There is even more art to be found in the cloisters themselves during summer months when it plays host to art exhibitions and the Sorrentine Musical Summer, a festival that sees performances of musical acts from all around the world in various spots throughout Sorrento over the course of the summer.
So, if you are planning on spending time in Sorrento, be sure to seek out and spend time in what is surely one of the most magical spaces in Italy.
Chiostro di San Francesco
Via S. Francesco, 12, 80067 Sorrento NA
081-5335254
It is free of charge to enter this space but do keep in mind that it is part of a religious complex and, as such, like in other religious buildings in Italy, one is expected to follow a respectfully conservative dress code. If you are not dressed accordingly, you will simply not be granted access. This dress code means, simply, covered knees and shoulders, i.e. no tank tops or above-the-knee shorts, skirts, or dresses. As long as you follow these rules, there should be no problem at all! Opening hours can be found posted to the exterior of the building.
While visiting the site, you might also pop upstairs to the Sorrento International Photo School, where there are often various exhibitions of photographers in the Gallery Celentano, such as the black-and-white photographs of Italian life and landscapes by local photographer Raffaele Celentano. There is even more art to be found in the cloisters themselves during summer months when it plays host to art exhibitions and the Sorrentine Musical Summer, a festival that sees performances of musical acts from all around the world in various spots throughout Sorrento over the course of the summer.
So, if you are planning on spending time in Sorrento, be sure to seek out and spend time in what is surely one of the most magical spaces in Italy.
Chiostro di San Francesco
Via S. Francesco, 12, 80067 Sorrento NA
081-5335254
Photo credit: Berthold Werner / CC BY-SA 3.0