Cattedrale di Sorrento (Sorrento Cathedral), Sorrento

The Sorrento Cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption and the Apostles Philip and James, stands at the heart of the town. Consecrated in 1113, the cathedral has undergone several transformations, particularly between 1450 and 1573. Its current facade, completed in 1924, reflects a neo-Gothic style, while the church itself was originally built in Baroque fashion on the site of an ancient Greek temple, thought to have been dedicated to Zeus.

As you approach, notice the three entrances. The 16th-century central doorway, framed by antique marble columns, is topped with an ogival arch. Each entrance features a lunette: the larger central one honors the Virgin Mary, while the smaller ones depict Saints Philip and James. Above, the facade rises with battlements and a blind rose window, adding an unusual but charming character to the building.

Step inside, and you will see a Latin-cross layout with three naves, separated by fourteen sturdy pillars. The ceiling is flat, adorned with paintings of 2nd-century martyrs, and the dome, frescoed in 1902 by Pietro Barone and Augusto Moriani, adds a soft luminosity to the interior. On the right side of the altar, don’t miss the small chapel where the poet Torquato Tasso was baptized, linking the cathedral to one of Sorrento’s most celebrated historical figures.

Almost 200 feet away, the bell tower stands slightly apart from the main structure. Its 11th-century Romanesque base supports four square sections featuring arches, niches, cornices, ceramic tiles, and a clock, giving visitors a glimpse of architectural layers spanning centuries.