Piazza Torquato Tasso
Italian poet
Dedicated to a poet and a patron, Piazza Torquato Tasso lies at the very heart of Sorrento.
The Sorrentini are proud of their native born poet, said to be one of the greatest Late Renaissance italian writers, and named the piazza after him, erecting his statue there. Although best known for the narrative poem "La Gerusalemme Liberata" (Jerusalem Delivered), Torquato Tasso wrote many admired works.
The square, created in 1800, replaced outmoded fortifications which had stood on the site since the turbulent Fifteen hundreds. Its high position, which in the past was advantageous for defenses, now affords pleasant views of the city and sea beyond.
Saint Antonino, who took refuge in Sorrento during the Lombard invasions, became the city's patron, and now also has a commemorative statue in the square.
Upon entering the square, the church of Santa Maria del Carmine, originally medieval with the façade dating back to the Seventeen hundreds, invariably draws the attention of visitors.
Piazza Torquato Tasso is a spacious meeting point of several roads and focal point of city and is always full of energy. During the day the square is a thoroughfare for traffic, tourists and citizens.
However, as evening approaches and the working day draws to a close, it becomes a pleasant place for an evening stroll (or "passeggiata") for locals and visitors alike.
