The Cloister of San Francesco adjoins the Church of San Francesco, a short walk from Piazza Tasso near the Villa Comunale gardens. The cloister dates from the 14th century and is notable for its interlaced arches — a Moorish-Gothic hybrid that gives it a different character from the more austere cloisters elsewhere in the region. The columns alternate between simple cylindrical forms and more elaborate twisted designs, and flowering vines typically cover the upper walls in summer.
The complex has been used as an art school since the 20th century, and the adjacent church is still active. The cloister garden is open to visitors during the day, and in summer it hosts outdoor concerts as part of the Sorrento International Film Festival and local music programmes. The Villa Comunale park, immediately next door, has clifftop views over the Bay of Naples toward Vesuvius.