Sorrento


Sorrento
December 29, 2018

We slept late yesterday, and after breakfast went to the Naples airport to meet up with those members of our group who were just arriving after their overnight flights.  We then went to Sorrento, checked in to our hotel, and had lunch (simple pasta with tomato sauce and salad, all of which was very nicely done and delicious).  After a break for unpacking and a short nap, we took a walk around the city. This is not high tourist season (which is spring and fall, summer being too hot for most) and many of the hotels are closed.  But some are open for the holidays, and day visitors are numerous.  The weather is spectacular, with clear mornings in the 40s and sunny days with highs in the high 50s to low 60s.

We took a walk in the late afternoon, starting at the main square in Sorrento:



There are many very elaborate nativity scenes, some in churches and some free-standing.  Here’s one we visited with a close-up of a very small part:




In one of the churches was a beautiful example of a local craft, marquetry:



After a walk of about an hour, we went back to the hotel for cocktails, appetizers, introductions, and then dinner.  The group is diverse, most are very experienced travelers, and everyone seems lovely!

This morning we took a long walk around the city.  Just outside our hotel is a deep gorge with a 17th c. mill at the bottom:



We visited the Basilica of St. Anthony, and at the far left you can see the stairs down to the crypt:



Besides being the patron saint of Sorrento, St.Anthony is believed to influence outcomes of diseases and especially of surgery.  Ex voto offerings are made to St. Anthony in silver in the form of the sick part of the body which will undergo surgery, and thousands of these are in cases along the walls of the crypt:




We walked to a lovely point overlooking the main port, or the Marina Grande:



Death and funeral notices here are posted on large boards.  The population of the town is only 18,000 and most families know most of the other families.  This is how you know who died and when the funeral is:



Finally, we visited the most prominent of the marquetry factory/stores and had a short demonstration of the creation of these works.  It’s all done with a single very fine saw:



The result of the work is a cutout:



Many beautiful objects are made from these, including tables, trays, coasters, and large furniture pieces too.  Here’s a table top:



Off shortly for dinner at a local popular restaurant.  Tomorrow, Pompeii.

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