Ravello

Ravello

Southern Italy

Campania

Salerno (province)

Amalfi Coast

Ravello Ravello is a town and commune in Salerno , . A peaceful area with a small population, Ravello offers stunning views of the Mediterranean. Visit their renowned gardens, Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo, and their spectacular Duomo, the Cathedral of Ravello in Vescovado Square. During summer months the city hosts the annual Ravello Festival, an event started in 1953 in honor of Richard Wagner and continued as a celebration of local art and music.

Ravello is in the hills above Amalfi . If you arrive by bus or boat from another city and plan on staying late for a concert, you will need to arrange return transportation. Your hotel should be able to arrange a car and driver to get you back to your hotel. This is a pricey option although it may be your only choice. The nearest airport is Napoli-Capodichino International Airport , and for trains you'll have to go to Salerno . By bus SITA Coach , ☏ +39 089 405 145 . Buses run throughout the Amalfi Coast between the cities of Salerno, Positano, Sorrento. You will disembark at the city of Amalfi and from there you can either take a different SITA bus up the hill or walk to Ravello. SITA buses are air-conditioned. The city-to-city SITA buses are inexpensive but can become very crowded during the high traffic summer seasons. Check the bus schedule for times. ( updated Oct 2019 ) City Sightseeing . Apr-Oct only . Buses from Amalfi to Ravello every half-hour, €5 each way. ( updated Oct 2019 ) By boat The closest point for Ravello with boat and ferry arrivals is Amalfi, which shuttle between the coastal towns of Positano, Salerno, Sorrento or Naples. In good weather, the views are spectacular from the water. Coop Sant Andrea run the service between Amalfi, Salerno and Positano. For private and luxury charters, Amalfi Coast Yacht are based in Amalfi, service the entire coast and specialise in transferring guests who are staying in Ravello's five-star retreats. By car Ravello is accessible by car, although cars are not allowed into Ravello proper and there is only one parking lot near the main square. The main highways in this region that traverse the Amalfi Coast are SS145, SS163, and SS373. Continue on Via Castiglione to arrive at Ravello.

The small town of Ravello is easily explored on foot. SITA buses run frequently between Ravello and Amalfi (which is the main bus terminal on the Amalfi Coast for connections) and taxis are available near the main bus stop in Ravello.

Villa Cimbrone , via Santa Chiara, 26 , ☏ +39 089 857459 , fax : +39 089 857777 , [email protected] . Public gardens are open daily 09:00-sunset . Hotel and gardens. The villa is reached by a narrow pedestrian road and is situated on a cliff known as “cimbronium,” which gives the Villa its name. Before becoming a hotel and a site for weddings, conventions, and other events, the grounds were passed down from one influential family to another since the 11th century. It became a part of a nearby monastery around the 17th century and eventually fell into disrepair. In 1904, a British baron named Ernest William Beckett fell in love with the villa and purchased it with plans to renovate the grounds. With the help from Ravello architect Nicola Mansi and a French botanist, Beckett added the Villa’s garden, small temples, gazebos, and bronze and stone statues. The Villa has attracted many famous admirers, including E.M. Forster, Virginia Woolf, D.H. Lawrence, and Winston Churchill. Hollywood actress Greta Garbo and conductor Leopold Stokowski had a famous romantic getaway on its grounds in 1938. A stroll through the estate will reveal poetic inscriptions found on plaques and numerous replicas of Roman busts. One attraction is a statue of Mercury, the Roman messenger god, who invites visitors to a few moments of introspection. Another sight to see is the Terrace of Infinity, a serene location that sits high above a sheer cliff facing the ocean. €7 .

Villa Rufolo , Piazza Duomo, 1 , ☏ +39 089 857621 , [email protected] . Summer hours: 09:00-20:00; Winter hours: 09:00-16:00 . Villa Rufolo is a palatial Moorish-style estate that was built in the 1270 for the Rufolo family. It is in Ravello’s main square, a 10-minute walk from Villa Combrone. The Villa Rufolo is comprised of a main building that adjoins a chapel with a reception hall and an entrance tower. The tower, known as the Torre Maggiore, is 30 m high and was once used to spot pirate ships arriving to the Amalfi coast. The estate overlooks the Bay of Salerno and its upper terrace gardens contain cypress trees, cycads, yuccas and palms. The Villa remained with the Rufolo family until they sold it in 1588. Thereafter, the Villa slowly fell into disrepair due to earthquakes, negligence, and property subdivisions. Almost three centuries later it was restored by its new owner, a Scottish botanist named Francis Neville Reid. In 1880, a trip to Villa Rufolo’s garden inspired German composer Robert Wagner to write the second act of his final opera, Parsifal. Every summer since 1952, Villa Rufolo hosts the Ravello Music Festival, an open-air concert held in Wagner’s honor. €7, €5 for seniors and children . ( updated Oct 2019 )

The Cathedral ( Duomo ), Piazza Duomo . 08:00-13:00, 16:30PM-19:00 .

Cruises Down in Amalfi, you can take a full-day Amalfi Coast to Capri Boat Excursion, which departs everyday from Amalfi, Minori and Maiori. It includes village sightseeing along the Amalfi Coast as well as a chance to check out wondrous marine caves, grottos and rock formations. You'll circle Capri, then dock and spend three hours exploring the island. Don't forget your swimsuit, because the day will wrap up with a swim in the Mediterranean. A ticket costs €79, and advance booking is strongly encouraged. Or If you're short on time, you can opt for half-day Amalfi Coast to Positano Boat Tours, with departures in the morning or the afternoon. You'll see marine caves and grottos, and you'll pass by the towns of Ravello, Maiori, Amalfi, Minori, Scala, Praiano, taking a two-hour stop in Positano. A ticket is €49, and advance booking is strongly encouraged. Cooking courses Cooking Class with Mamma Agata , Piazza S. Cosma 9 , ☏ +39 089 857 019 . Talented and experienced chef Mamma Agata hosts this class in a state-of-the-art kitchen on her terrace overlooking Ravello. You will learn all about the art of homestyle Italian cooking, from growing organic vegetables to serving a beautiful meal. Following expert demonstrations, you'll use regional ingredients to make traditional dishes including antipasti, pastas, breads, main courses and desserts. After class, share your meal with your classmates while enjoying local wines and homemade liquors from the Amalfi region. €140-210 . Cooking Class with Vincenzino , ☏ +39 089 858 416 . Chef Vincenzino runs a cooking school from his home in Ravello. To kick off your culinary experience, he'll guide you through the historic alleys of Ravello, visiting the local food shops. You'll meet the merchants and learn how the locals choose their fish, pasta, vegetables, and wines. Later, at Vincenzino's clifftop home, where you'll prepare a lunchtime feast, served (weather permitting) on a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. The day starts around 09:00-10:00 and ends following your meal in the afternoon. €150 . Other activities The Ravello Concert Society . Offers concerts in the evening. The concerts are usually outdoors, weather permitting. Tickets can be obtained in person or through arrangements with your hotel and cost around €25. This is a fantastic way to enjoy the artistic culture of Ravello. The Ravello Festival . One of Italy's oldest festivals, is an extensive offering of musical and dance performances, film screenings, art exhibits and more. It runs from June to September, with most performances on an impressive open air stage at Villa Rufalo. Events are also held at a variety of indoor and outdoor venues around Ravello. Ravello's pathways .

Local restaurants and trattorias serve regional cuisine featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients. Traditional dishes reflect the local culinary heritage.

Cafes and bars in the town centre serve coffee, wine, and local beverages. Regional wines and spirits are worth sampling.

Hotels, guesthouses, and bed-and-breakfast establishments offer accommodation. Advance booking is recommended during peak season.

Small boutiques and outdoor markets abound in Ravello. The town has long been famous for attracting artists and craftsmen, and this is reflected in the handmade items available for sale. Many shops will ship your purchases home - but beware of your own country's customs procedures first! Because Customs will charge you money to check and search your purchase at their major custom's hub when it arrives from Italy and will only release your package (ceramic table top, dinner set, etc.) when you pay the customs import costs. And this can go into the thousands as it is calculated by weight. Ceramiche d'Arte , Via Roma 22 , ☏ +39 089 858576 , fax : +39 089 8586070 , [email protected] . For unique handmade ceramics head to Ceramiche d'Arte where the product patterns and colors are inspired by hundreds of years of Italian tradition. Ceramiche Da Lena , Via dei Rufolo , ☏ +39 089 858437 , fax : +39 089 858040 , [email protected] . Ceramiche Da Lena is another well-known ceramics shop found in Ravello. The company produces a wide variety of ceramics, from delicate boxes to umbrella stands. Designs span a wide range of tastes from a classic Arabesco to the light-hearted "animal" series. Camo , Piazza Duomo, 9 ( Piazza Vescovado, near the church ), ☏ +39 089 857461 . Ravello is home to Camo, a cameo store with a museum behind it so that you can get a dose of the history that goes into this intricately carved jewelry. Wine & Drugs , Via Ss. Trinita, 6 , ☏ +39 089 858443 . The small town is also known for its wine. A small shop, Wine and Drugs, often lures travelers in with its curious sign and keeps them for an impromptu wine tasting. I Giardini di Ravello , Via Civita, 19 , ☏ +39 089 872264 , [email protected] . Buy limoncello and other gourmet liqueurs flavored with herbs and fruits, like fennel and strawberry, at this establishment dedicated to products made by local artisans. Profumi della Costiera , Via Trinità, 37 , ☏ +39 089-858167 , [email protected] . An [... truncated ...]

Nearby towns and natural attractions are within easy reach by car. Public transport connections are available to major cities in the region.