Editing Sorrento (section)

==History==

===Origins===
The Roman name for Sorrento was {{lang|la|Surrentum}}. From the 8th century BC the area had the presence of a community of indigenous villages, which was a crossing point for [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]] traffic. Subsequently, the area fell into the hands of the [[Osci]], who exercised an important influence there, in fact the oldest ruins of Surrentum are Oscan, dating from about 600 BC.<ref>{{Cite web|title=storia di sorrento|url=https://www.sorrentoholiday.info/italian/storiadisorrento.htm|access-date=2022-02-19|website=www.sorrentoholiday.info}}</ref>

Before its control by the [[Roman Republic]], Surrentum was one of the towns subject to [[Nuceria]], and shared its fortunes up to the [[Social War (91–88 BC)|Social War]]; it seems to have joined in the revolt of 90 BC like [[Stabiae]]; and was reduced to obedience in the following year, when it seems to have received a colony.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-10-02 |title=origins of Sorrento history of Sorrento song torna a Surriento Sorrento holidays |url=http://www.sorrento-online.com/english/history.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002031609/http://www.sorrento-online.com/english/history.htm |archive-date=2022-10-02 |access-date=2023-09-24 |website=Sorrento Online}}</ref>

Numerous sepulchral inscriptions of Imperial slaves and freedmen have been found at Surrentum. An inscription shows that [[Titus]] in the year after the earthquake of 79 AD restored the horologium (clock) of the town and its architectural decoration. A similar restoration of an unknown building in Naples in the same year is recorded in an inscription from the last-named town.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

The most important temples of Surrentum were those of [[Athena]] and of the [[Siren (mythology)|Siren]]s (the latter the only one in the Greek world in historic times); the former gave its name to the promontory. In antiquity, Surrentum was famous for its wine (oranges and lemons which are now widely cultivated there were not yet introduced in Italy in antiquity), its fish, and its red Campanian vases; the discovery of coins of [[Marseille|Massilia]], [[Gaul]], and the [[Balearic Islands]] here indicates the extensive trade which it carried on.<ref name=":0" />

[[File:Jacob Philipp Hackert 003.jpg|thumb|left|160px|''Vintage near Sorrento'', [[Jacob Philipp Hackert]], c. 1784.]]

The position of Surrentum was very secure, protected by deep gorges. The only exception to its natural protection was {{convert|300|m|0|abbr=off}} on the south-west where it was defended by walls, the line of which is necessarily followed by those of the modern town. The arrangement of the modern streets preserves that of the ancient town, and the disposition of the walled paths which divide the plain to the east seems to date in like manner from [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] times. No ruins are now preserved in the town itself, but there are many remains in the villa quarter to the east of the town on the road to Stabiae, of which traces still exist, running much higher than the modern road, across the mountain.<ref name=":0" />

The site of one of the largest (possibly belonging to the Imperial house) is now occupied by the Hotel Vittoria, under the terrace of which a small theatre was found in 1855; an ancient rock-cut tunnel descends hence to the shore. Remains of other villas may be seen, but the most important ruin is the reservoir of the (subterranean) aqueducts just outside the town on the east, which had no less than twenty-seven chambers each about {{convert|270|by|60|cm|0|abbr=on}}. Greek and [[Osci|Oscan]] tombs have also been found.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

Another suburb lay below the town and on the promontory on the west of it; under the Hotel Bellevue Syrene are substructions and a rock-hewn tunnel. To the north-west on the [[Capo di Sorrento]] is another villa, the so-called [[Bagni della Regina Giovanna]], with baths, and in the bay to the south-west was the villa of Pollius Felix, the friend of [[Statius]], which he describes in ''[[Silvae]]'' ii. 2, of which remains still exist. Farther west again are villas, as far as the temple of Athena on the promontory named after her at the extremity of the peninsula (now [[Punta Campanella]]). Neither of this nor of the famous temple of the Sirens are any traces existing.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

In the mythology, according to the Greek historian [[Diodorus Siculus]], Sorrento was founded by [[Liparus (mythology)|Liparus]], son of [[Ausonus]], who was king of the [[Ausoni]] and the son of [[Odysseus|Ulysses]] and [[Circe]]. The ancient city was probably connected to the Ausoni tribe, one of the most ancient ethnic groups in the area. In the pre-Roman age, Sorrento was influenced by the [[Greek civilization]]: this can be seen in its plant and in the presence of the ''[[Athenaion]]'', a great sanctuary, also, according to the legend, founded by Ulysses and originally devoted to the cult of the [[Siren (mythology)|Siren]]s, hence Sorrento's name.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

===Middle Ages and modern era===
Sorrento became an [[bishop of Sorrento|archbishopric]] around 420 AD. After the fall of the [[Western Roman Empire]], it was ruled by the [[Ostrogoths]] and then returned to the [[Eastern Roman Empire|Eastern Empire]]. The [[Lombards]], who conquered much of southern Italy in the second half of the 6th century, besieged it in vain.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

In the following centuries the authority of the distant Empire of [[Byzantium]] faded; initially part of the substantially independent [[Duchy of Naples]], later Sorrento became in turn an autonomous [[duchy]] in the 9th century. It fought against neighbouring/rival [[Amalfi]], the [[Saracen]]s and the nearby Lombardic duchies, such as that of [[Duchy of Benevento]], whose forces besieged it in 839, although Sorrento was able to resist with Neapolitan help. Sorrentine forces took part in the anti-Saracen leagues at the battles of Licosa (846) and [[battle of Ostia|Ostia]] (849). The duchy was ruled by figures elected by the people, which received honorary titles from the Byzantine Emperor.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

In 1035 the city was acquired by [[Guaimar IV of Salerno]], who gave it to his brother [[Guy, Duke of Sorrento|Guy]]. After a brief return under the Duchy of Naples, it returned in Lombard hands with [[Gisulf II of Salerno]]; when the latter was defeated by [[Robert Guiscard]], Sorrento entered the [[Italo-Norman|Norman]] sphere of influence: any residual independence was ended in 1137 when it was conquered by [[Roger II of Sicily]], and annexed to the [[Kingdom of Sicily]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

On 13 June 1558 it was sacked by elements of the Ottoman navy under the command of [[Dragut]] and his lieutenant Piali, as part of the struggle between the Turks and Spain, which controlled the southern half of Italy at that time. 2,000 captives were reportedly taken away. This struggle was waged throughout the Mediterranean and lasted many decades. The attackers were not "pirates" as often characterised, though some may have been mercenaries from North Africa. The campaigns were conducted on the direct orders of Sultan Suleiman.<ref name="sorrentotheromance.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.sorrentotheromance.com/en/home.html |title=Sorrento The Romance |publisher=Sorrento The Romance |date=2017-06-15 |access-date=2017-07-11 |archive-date=2016-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925192844/http://www.sorrentotheromance.com/en/home.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The attack led to the construction of a new line of walls. The most striking event of the following century was the revolt against [[Spain|Spanish]] domination of 1648, led by [[Giovanni Grillo]]. In 1656 a [[Second plague pandemic|plague]] struck the city. However, Sorrento remained one of the most important centres of southern [[Campania]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}
[[File:Sorrento,Italy from Piazza Tasso.jpg|thumb|A view from [[Piazza Tasso, Sorrento|Piazza Tasso]].]]
Sorrento entered into the [[Neapolitan Republic (1799)|Neapolitan Republic of 1799]], but in vain.{{clarify|date=August 2022}} 

In the 19th century the economy of the city improved markedly, favoured by the development of agriculture, tourism and trade. A route connecting Sorrento to [[Castellammare di Stabia]] was opened under the reign of [[Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies|Ferdinand II]] (1830–1859). In 1861 Sorrento was officially annexed to the new [[Unification of Italy|Kingdom of Italy]]. In the following years it confirmed and increased its status of one of the most renowned tourist destinations of Italy, a trend which continued into the 20th century. Famous people who visited it include [[Lord Byron]], [[John Keats|Keats]], [[Goethe]], [[Friedrich Nietzsche]], [[Henrik Ibsen]] and [[Walter Scott]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}