Marina Grande
Via del Mare, Sorrento, Campania
Sorrento's tiny fishing village of Marina Grande is known for its colorful wooden boats bobbing in the harbor, and local fishermen still mend their nets by hand just steps from sunbathers along the beach. At the heart of Marina Grande is the Church of Sant’Anna, dedicated to the town’s patron saint, and a shore lined with small, family-run restaurants serving fresh Mediterranean fish and seafood.
Connected to the historic center of Sorrento by a stone staircase, Marina Grande is best explored on foot. Escape the crowds in central Sorrento for a few hours at a waterfront restaurant or on the volcanic sand beach. Located adjacent to bustling Marina Piccola where ferries and cruise ships dock, Marina Grande has a rustic charm that seems worlds away from the busy port next door.
Ferries and private boat tours depart from Marina Piccola, just to the east along the Sorrento Coast. To get from one port to the other, go uphill to the center of Sorrento and back down the cliff on foot or by bus on the other side.
For visitors with limited mobility, taking a taxi or private transfer from the center of Sorrento to Marina Grande is the best option as the walk is steep and the public buses are not always accessible.
A few hours in Marina Grande provides a perfect break for kids, who love to watch the fishing boats come and go and play on the adjacent beach.
From Piazza Vittoria in central Sorrento, walk along the lane that skirts Hotel Bellevue Syrene to the stairs that lead downhill to Marina Grande. Buses also connect Piazza Tasso in Sorrento with Marina Grande.
Italy's southern coastline is very crowded in summer, so visiting in the slower spring or fall months is strongly recommended. Visit the Church of Sant’Anna on the Sunday after her Saint’s Day (July 26) to participate in the festivities with song, dance, and fireworks; on other nights of the year, the sunset over the water is festive enough.
The Marina Grande fishing village is adjacent to Sorrento's Marina Piccola, the main transportation hub for ferries to and from the Bay of Naples, the Amalfi Coast, the island of Capri, and other destinations in Campania. Take the ferry for a day trip to Capri to see the Faraglioni and the Blue Grotto; during the summer months, ferries also run to Positano and Amalfi, where you can catch a local bus up to Ravello. To visit Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii, take the Circumvesuviana train from the station in central Sorrento.
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