From the end of 19th century, the alleyway of Santa Maria della Pietà, parallel to the present main thoroughfare of Corso Italia, was one of Sorrento’s main streets. In effect it was the Decumanus Minore connecting Piazzale del Castello to the Cathedral in an east-west direction. The churches Santa Maria della Pietà and San Catello stood along this road. Some of the most beautiful mansions of Sorrento were also built here, a few going back to the 12th century. Palazzo dei Correale and Palazzo Veniero are two excellent examples. Nowadays they still testify to the splendour and prestige of the Sorrentine families during the Middle Ages. A small turning off the main street into a dead end called "Vico Bagnagatte” is where you can admire one of the most beautiful ancient buildings of the city: the fifteenth century loggia, the only legacy from the 15th century.
With the construction of Corso Italia at the end of the 19th century, Vico della Pietà lost its status as an important thoroughfare. Already at the end of the century many of the buildings moved their entrances to the “new street of Sorrentine worldliness”. Walking along Vicolo della Pietà and looking around will take you back to the glories of that time.