On April 23, 1924, Gorky settled in Sorrento, first at the "Capuccini" hotel, then at the "Massa" villa, and from November 16, 1924, at the "Il Sorito" villa, located on the rocky Cape of Sorrento. Away from the noisy resort center, surrounded by the greenery of the garden, was the house he rented from a impoverished descendant of the Dukes of Serra Capriola. Here, the writer spent several years actively engaged in creativity. During this period, he wrote the novella "The Case of the Artemonovs," three volumes of the epic "The Life of Klim Samgin," "Notes from the Diary," plays, essays, memoirs, and numerous journalistic articles.

From the balconies of the "Il Sorito" villa, there was a stunning view of the Bay of Naples with the panorama of Vesuvius and the village at its foot, as well as Castellammare. Gorky's study door on the second floor was always open, and the room was filled with the aroma of lemon and orange groves surrounding the villa. Nearby was the cozy beach of Regina Giovanna, but the writer spent most of the day working. His routine was as follows: from 9 AM to 2 PM, work in the study, after lunch, a walk to the sea, then from 4 PM until dinner, more work, and after dinner, reading and responding to letters.

Life at the "Il Sorito" villa was lively and cheerful. Gorky was called Duke, Nadezhda Peshkova, Timosha, I. N. Rakitsky, Nightingale, Valentina Khodasevich, and Kupchikha. The household was managed by Maria Budberg, known as Chobunka. On August 17, 1925, his granddaughter Marfa was born, and on October 12, 1927, his second granddaughter Darya. The house often had guests who participated in humorous skits and charades, improvised, and had fun. A home magazine "Sorrentine Truth" was published at the villa, illustrated by Maxim Peshkov, featuring humorous stories, poems, and caricatures.

The "Il Sorito" villa remained Gorky's home until his return to the USSR in 1933. This was an important period in his life: the future of him and his family was being decided, and a new stage of spiritual development and mastery was beginning. A recognized writer arrived in Sorrento, whom not only relatives but also numerous visitors sought to see, interested in his opinions on current issues. Gorky was concerned about the rise of fascism in Italy and Germany, the confrontation between East and West, national liberation struggles, new phenomena in literature and art, as well as processes in the USSR.

Gorky was often asked about returning to his homeland. After Lenin's death and Zinoviev's fall, he increasingly leaned towards this thought. Since 1925, Soviet officials frequently visited Sorrento. In early July 1927, he was visited by the Soviet ambassador to Italy, L. B. Kamenev, and his wife.

By this time, Gorky began to think that he was eagerly awaited in the USSR. He received numerous letters urging him to return from government members, writers, scholars, and ordinary people. By the end of 1927, he was confident that he would be welcomed with joy. In September-October 1927, the USSR celebrated the 35th anniversary of his literary activity, and a committee was formed to honor him for his 60th anniversary in March 1928.

Gorky refused official celebrations, but the anniversary was still widely celebrated. On March 30, 1928, a congratulatory message from the Council of People's Commissars was published in "Pravda." On May 28, 1928, after 6.5 years of absence, the writer returned to Moscow. However, he continued to visit Sorrento until May 9, 1933. Leaving Sorrento forever, he took with him two paintings: "Panorama of Sorrento" by P. D. Korin and "Beach of Regina Giovanna" by N. A. Benois.

Today, a memorial plaque is installed at the "Il Sorito" villa indicating the dates of Gorky's stay in this house.