SORRENTO

Latin Surrentum, town and archiepiscopal see, Napoli provincia, Campania regione, southern Italy. It lies on a peninsula separating the Bay of Naples, which it faces, from the Gulf of Salerno, south-southeast of Naples. The backbone of the peninsula is formed by the Lattari Mountains, which culminate in Mount Sant'Angelo (4,734 feet ). Probably of Greek origin, the town was the ancient Surrentum, a Roman resort. The seat of an autonomous duchy in the 7th century, Sorrento became part of the Norman kingdom of Sicily in 1137. The poet Torquato Tasso was born there in 1544. Notable landmarks in the town include the frequently rebuilt cathedral, the 14th-century cloister of St. Francis of Assisi, and the Correale di Terranova Museum, containing an important collection of Campanian decorative art, medieval sculpture, paintings, and classical remains. Long popular as a resort for its climate and scenic location, Sorrento is also noted for wine, olive oil, and citrus fruit. Pop. (1991 prelim.) mun., 17,015.