Ravello

Ravello is a hilltop town on the Amalfi Coast, set on a ridge about three hundred and fifty metres above the sea between Amalfi and Minori. Quieter and greener than the villages below, it is known for its villas and gardens, its views over the Gulf of Salerno and its long association with music.

Villa Rufolo, a medieval residence with a tower, Moorish cloister and terraced gardens, inspired Richard Wagner for the magic garden of his opera Parsifal. Its garden terrace hangs above the sea and hosts concerts of the Ravello Festival in summer. Villa Cimbrone, at the end of the ridge, is famous for its romantic gardens and the Terrace of Infinity, lined with marble busts, with one of the most celebrated views in Italy. Show more

The cathedral on the main square has a bronze door and two marble pulpits decorated with mosaics. The Oscar Niemeyer Auditorium, a modern white building, contrasts with the medieval town. Paths lead down through lemon terraces to Minori and Amalfi, and up into the Lattari mountains. Ravello is known for ceramics, local wines and the lemon based specialities of the coast.

Ravello is reached by bus or road from Amalfi in about twenty minutes. A day suits a visit, and an overnight stay shows the town at its calmest. Spring and autumn are ideal, while summer brings the music festival.