The lemon ways of Sorrento

The history

The color, taste and fragrance of the Sorrento lemon are the symbols of the peninsula.

The fruits is unique in its type, due to the climatic conditions, the conformation of the area and the peculiar nature of the soil.

The proper balance between sugar and acid, the quality and quantity of essential oils in the lemon peels, give a particular aroma and organoleptic profile.

The lemon cultivation in the Sorrento Peninsula is evidenced in many frescoes and mosaics found in the archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

These tours, located approximately 30 kilometers from Sorrento, were destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D..

In the "Casa del Frutteto" escavated in Pompeii in 1951, lemon trees are pictured. This is to demonstrate that lemon cultivations already existed in the first century A.D.. The fruits pictured are similar to those present in many Sorrento gardens today, confirming the ancient and solid roots of the lemon cultivation in the Sorrento area. 

The cultivation of the Sorrento lemon increased in the 18th century; in the 19th century, due to flourishing maritime traffic towards Northern Europe and North America, the lemon reached these geographic areas. This commerce resisted until 1950. Afterwards, various conditions determined its crisis; the cultivation area decreased in size, the competition with lower quality-cheaper products came about, and lack of interest on the part of the younger generation to earn low agricultural income.

The Cooperativa Agricola Solagri was founded in 1954. Together with the area producers of limoncello, the Solagri has come back to a more economical way of handling the traditional cultivation and reducing the use of pesticides and chemical manure.

The European Union has acknowledged the specific quality and character of the Limone di Sorrento through the concession of the IGP trademark.