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Visitors to Sorrento are enchanted by the golden light dancing on the sea, the scent of citrus fruits lingering in the air, and the sound of the wind brushing against the rocks. But few know that, according to an ancient legend, the very name of this land comes from a creature just as luminous and mysterious: Sirentum.
A Birth Promised to the Sirens
The legend takes us back to the green hills of Casarlano, where two young farmers lived: Mirone, a hardworking man devoted to the land, and Leucosia, a woman with eyes as deep as the sea. It is said that Leucosia was actually one of the three mythical Sirens, daughters of Achelous, transformed into a mortal out of love. The couple, who were unable to have children, turned in faith to the temple of the Sirens that once stood in Massa Lubrense.
Their prayer was answered, and thus a girl of extraordinary beauty was born: Sirentum. Her hair shone like strands of gold, her eyes reflected the clear sky, and her heart was filled with kindness and a longing for freedom. Her very existence seemed already woven with destiny. One day, while strolling along the beach at Marina Grande, Sirentum met Partenope, the immortal mermaid. Amid gentle waves and whispered words, Partenope recognized a kindred spirit in her and foretold a royal future for her: “You will become a queen, and your name will live on forever among these cliffs.”
The prophecy came true when Sirentum met a young and charming prince from the Durazzo family. It was love at first sight, and their marriage marked the beginning of a happy era for the city. The newlyweds often returned to Sorrento, where they welcomed the people with celebrations, banquets, and warm smiles.
But fate decided to test the citizens’ love for their queen. In 1558, the city was sacked by Saracen pirates, and Sirentum was abducted. It was a dark time, when the queen’s beauty was missed as much as the sun is missed in winter. Yet the bond between her and the people was too strong to be broken, so every resident, from the wealthiest to the humblest, gave what they had: jewelry, savings, household items, even grain reserves.
A spontaneous collection, born from the heart, made it possible to redeem Sirentum and bring her back to her homeland, amid the tears and songs of her people.
As a sign of gratitude and eternal love, the people of Sorrento decided that the city’s name would forever honor that extraordinary woman. And so, ever since, Sorrento has been Sirentum, transformed into stone, sea, and memory.
A land enchanted by the Sirens
But the connection between Sorrento and the Sirens doesn’t end there. According to Homer’s epic, it was in the waters off the Sorrento Peninsula that Odysseus faced the Sirens’ deceptive song. Only thanks to his wits—and the help of the goddess Athena—was he able to resist their seductive voices. Those creatures, repelled by Odysseus’s silence, let themselves die, transforming into the islets known today as Li Galli, visible from Punta Campanella. And right there, at the top of the promontory, Odysseus had a temple dedicated to Athena built, the ruins of which can still be visited today.
Sorrento, the city that still sings
Today, as you stroll through the streets of Sorrento, amid ancient churches, flower-filled terraces, and glimpses of the sea, you might sense an echo. It’s not just the wind or the call of the sea. It’s the voice of Sirentum, which still resonates among the stones, in the verses of a poet, or in the scent of a lemon dessert. And if you listen closely, you might even hear the Sirens, who still watch over this land suspended between myth and wonder.