Earlier this summer, I had my first extended stay in Italy, where I traveled with a tour group. Although normally I prefer finding landmarks, I appreciated visiting parts of Italy that many do not usually reach. There is so much foot traffic in Rome, Venice, and Florence. I think the fact that I ran into the same classmate in Rome and then Venice a few days later really proves that point. However, I had the chance to experience Sorrento, Positano, Capri, and Assisi. While Rome was my favorite city, I loved the countryside feel of Assisi and the Mediterranean atmosphere in Sorrento.

Sorrento is located in Campania, Southern Italy, along the Amalfi Coast, in proximity to the towns of Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Capri. The Amalfi Coast gives off a serene, misty feeling and, as the day gets warmer, the sunlight bounces off the water like blinding, sparkling diamonds. I was reminded of the gorgeous French Riviera.

The Amalfi Coast is a getaway for many individuals, including high-profile celebrities. If the Greek-like architecture and stunning coastline does not do the trick, then perhaps the mild winters and warm, comfortable summers do. After all, a morning drive with a few stops along the coast was enough to convince me that I would have a summer vacation place nestled there in the cliffs pronto, as soon as I pay off my New York City housing rent.

While Sorrento mornings brought misty, bright views of churches, docks and local shops, warm Sorrento nights brought a mixture of excitement and coziness. The cliff itself reminded me of starry nights in Arizona, where I lay out on the hammock in the back of the pueblo, ten minutes’ drive away from the nearest store.

On one late night where I searched frantically for a signal to write an email on my Kindle, I finally found it on the well-lit steps of the hotel, under a huge lemon tree. I enjoyed the music emanating from a restaurant nearby, laughter and chatter mixed with the occasional clang of forks to plates and glasses to glasses, though I never saw a single person or even the restaurant itself. I savored the feeling of being a rock’s throw away from an eagle’s eye view of the water, and indulged myself in thoughts of mysterious Mediterranean nights.

Earlier, I had strolled around the cobblestone streets of Piazza Tasso, named after the poet Torquato Tasso, author of Gerusalemme Liberata. I marveled over the gigantic, distorted, mutant-like lemons, which were displayed in local shops and dotted so many of the trees we saw. We sampled limoncello, an alcoholic drink made with lemon rinds, water and sugar, one of Sorrento’s claims to fame. Although very strong after a gulp, the satisfying sweetness of a lemon drop makes it a wonderful dessert aperitif.

After dinner, we meandered through the town. Unlike in Florence, where shops close around seven at night, the stores here all closed after ten and many locals stayed out later in bars, singing karaoke.

If you are visiting Italy and want to stay somewhere cozy, scenic, and a little off the beaten path, I would recommend Sorrento. The panoramic coast, music, and excitement at night all serve as a great backdrop for a relaxing vacation or even a love affair to remember. Sorrento nights are definitely worth losing sleep over.