Nestled behind Piazza Tasso in the heart of Sorrento, the Valley of the Mills captures visitors with its natural beauty and rich history. The area comes from an ancient mill that once ground grain, playing a vital role in the local economy. Here, the rivers Casarlano and Sant’Antonino converge, and over thousands of years, their waters have shaped the valley’s distinctive landscape.
This picturesque valley began forming around 35,000 years ago when the eruption of the Campi Flegrei supervolcano blanketed the region with volcanic debris. Over the centuries, spring-fed streams carved a narrow, winding gorge through the debris, creating a path toward the sea. Locals built a flour mill at the valley’s base in this natural refuge. The water-powered millstones ground grain for the community and fuelled a sawmill, where artisans worked with cherry, olive, and walnut timber from the nearby forests.
The valley also served as a gathering place for local women, who used a communal fountain to wash clothes. Beyond its practical use, the fountain became a hub for socializing and sharing news and gossip, filling the valley with conversation and laughter. In many ways, the valley thrived as a centre of community life.
As the valley stretches toward the coast, it opens into the sea at Marina Piccola, where the port of Sorrento stands today. Beyond milling and carpentry, people also quarried “tufo” stone here, a building material formed from volcanic ash. Builders used this valuable stone extensively in constructing homes and roads across the Sorrentine Peninsula, many of which still stand today as a testament to the valley’s influence on the region’s architecture.
The mill continued operating until the early 19th century when the construction of Piazza Tasso in 1866 drastically changed the area’s layout. Builders filled part of the valley leading to the port, cutting off direct access to the mill and leaving it isolated from the lively town centre. By 1940, the building stood abandoned, its doors closed, and its once-busy surroundings eerily silent.
The valley’s enclosed shape and limited airflow due to the new Piazza Tasso created a unique microclimate. High humidity and still air made human habitation challenging, but these conditions encouraged various rare ferns and caper plants to thrive and spread over the abandoned structures. Today, the lush overgrowth enveloping the buildings gives the Valley of the Mills a hauntingly beautiful, almost mystical appearance, making it one of the world’s most iconic and photographed abandoned places.
Photographs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, like those by Giorgio Sommer, capture the timeless charm of the valley before modern restoration efforts began. One can still imagine the bustling life of the mill and sawmill, faintly echoing through the thick foliage that has now taken over.
In recent years, a company purchased the mill in 2012 with plans to restore it, but the local municipality soon halted these efforts. This decision sparked debate among Sorrento residents, who hold mixed opinions. Some cherish the valley’s untouched, wild beauty and oppose any restoration. In contrast, others see value in reopening the site as a tourist attraction to preserve an essential piece of Sorrento’s history.
Despite restricted access due to private ownership, the Valley of the Mills continues to captivate visitors and locals, remaining a hidden gem within Sorrento’s rich cultural landscape.
The Mill before the restoration
Photos: source InternetÂ
