Marina Grande, Sorrento's fishing village

Marina Grande is Sorrento's old fishing village: a small cove below the town walls, with pastel-coloured houses, wooden boats pulled up on the shore, nets drying in the sun and trattorias right on the water. It is about a ten-minute walk from the centre and the best place to see the most authentic side of Sorrento, the one that still lives from the sea.

A gateway to the sea for centuries

For centuries the most direct route between the town and the sea ran through here. From the village a medieval-looking stone stairway climbs towards the centre, ending beneath the arch of the Marina Grande Gate, one of the historic entrances to the walled town.

This gate is linked to the most dramatic chapter in the history of Sorrento. On 13 June 1558 the Ottoman fleet led by Admiral Piyale Pasha landed on the peninsula; according to the traditional account, a Turkish slave serving the Correale family, who held the keys to the town gates, opened the Marina Grande gate to the invaders. The town was sacked and thousands of inhabitants were carried off into slavery. After that day Sorrento built a new, stronger ring of walls, and the gate was restored and incorporated into the fortifications.

The fishing village today

Marina Grande has kept the feel of a seaside village. Fishermen mend their nets on the beach, boats come back in the morning with the catch, and the houses huddle around the Church of Sant'Anna, built in the 17th century by the local fishermen. The feast of the saint, at the end of July around her liturgical day on the 26th, is the most heartfelt moment of the year: a procession, festive lights and fireworks reflected on the sea. You can read more on our page about traditions and events.

The village has also been a film set: in 1955 several scenes of Scandal in Sorrento (Pane, amore e...) by Dino Risi, starring Sophia Loren and Vittorio De Sica, were shot here. Strolling along the main lane you will still come across reminders of the filming.

Sea, beach and piers

The beach is narrow and made of dark sand, partly free and partly taken up by bathing establishments on wooden stilts, typical of the Sorrento coast where sand is scarce. The water is clear and the view stretches across the Bay of Naples to Vesuvius. If you are looking for other places to swim, see our guide to the beaches of Sorrento or the list of beach clubs.

Where to eat in Marina Grande

The village restaurants, many with tables on the piers just inches from the water, are known for the catch of the day, spaghetti with clams and mixed fried fish. It is one of the unmissable ways to taste Sorrento cuisine from the sea, especially at sunset. You will find addresses and suggestions in the where to eat section.

How to walk there from the centre

From Piazza Tasso, walk down to Piazza Sant'Antonino and continue along Via San Francesco, past the entrance to the Villa Comunale and the Cloister of San Francesco, as far as Piazza della Vittoria. From here Via Marina Grande begins, narrowing as it heads down towards the sea; the last stretch is the stairway that passes beneath the Marina Grande Gate. Allow about ten to fifteen minutes on foot.

Practical tips

• The way back is all uphill: if you prefer, use the town buses linking the village to the centre, or take a taxi.
• In summer the village is liveliest in the evening, so it is worth booking a table.
• For a contrast, also visit Marina Piccola, the port for ferries and hydrofoils at the foot of the cliffs on the other side.