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Sorrento Lemons - One of Sorrento AttractionsVisiting any location in the Bay of Naples you will notice the air is especially mild and sweet. Whether you are visiting Pompeii Italy, Capri Italy or Sorrento Italy itself, you will undoubtedly be hypnotised by the sweet smell of jasmine, bergamot, cypresses, oranges and especially Sorrento lemons growing all around the area. But you won’t be smelling the famous lemons only… they will be smiling at you from the groves as you ride the funicular to Capri town, posing for you on the shops’ street stalls, staring at you from the window shops painted on Sorrento ceramics or linens, calling you to take them home in the form of locally made soaps and perfumes… As you can guess by now, Sorrento lemons are a symbol of the Sorrentine peninsula and one of the Sorrento attractions that spreads its fame all around the world. There are a few things that make them really stand out from any other lemons around the world… first of all, it’s their size… honestly, it can be shocking! Sometimes you will find them as big as a baby’s head! Next it’s the thick, pale-yellow skin of uneven texture. And then there is their aroma and specific fragrance, as well as being one of the varieties richest in vitamin C. 
Limone di Sorrento, Ovale di Sorrento, Massalubrense lemon… these are all names for the variety of Sorrento lemons that started out as Feminello Ovale variety. This variety was brought into the area in the 1st Ct BC, and the fact that they even featured in some Pompeii mosaics from the 1st Ct AD tells us they were very much part of everyday life. And it’s no wonder if you think of their health properties and intense rich flavour. After the Vesuvius volcano eruption and land being covered in volcanic ash that made it very fertile, the lemons acclimatized even more. Now it was sure, thanks to the mild Mediterranean climate and fertile soil, they were here to stay for many centuries to come. But it wasn’t until the 16th Ct that organized cultivation of Sorrento lemons started: it was the Jesuits that started growing them between Sorrento and Massa Lubrense in terraced lemon groves cascading down the slopes of the surrounding hills. You will see them still today as you’re driving on the Amalfi road. In the 1800’s, Sorrento lemons stopped being a privilege of the local people only: they were exported all around the world and even listed on the New York stock exchange. Nowadays, lemons of Sorrento are grown to such high standards they were honoured with the IPG status (Indicazione Geografica Protetta) which means they have the role of an important and unique regional food. Lemons of Sorrento are harvested pretty much all year round, but the main harvest is from March to October, so you are very likely to see them during your Mediterranean cruise.
Limoncello, or sometimes spelt Lemoncello, is an after dinner digestive, that is best consumed chilled from a chilled shot glass… or it can be used as an ingredient for different cocktails. It is made out of Sorrento lemons skin, not the flesh. They say this yummy liqueur was first produced by the local convents. Since then, pretty much every family makes their own home made lemoncello according to their own taste and centuries old recipes. And so do many small shops that make and sell their own versions of limoncellos. So if you don’t mind some liqueur, if you ask us, taking a bottle of it home might be the best possible way to take Sorrento lemons home with you. It’s neon-yellow colour, citrusy fragrance and “warming effect” will immediately take you back to sunny Sorrento weeks after you get back home from your Mediterranean cruise!
SORRENTO ITALY ARTICLES TABLE OF CONTENTS From SORRENTO LEMONS to Mediterranean Cruise Ports Easy
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If you wonder what they do with all these lemons in Sorrento... well, they do export some but most of it is kept for making the delicious Limoncello liqueur. 