Ravello

Ravello

Perched high above the Amalfi Coast at nearly 350 metres, Ravello is a hilltop town of extraordinary tranquillity and refinement. Its clifftop gardens, medieval villas, and sweeping views of the Tyrrhenian Sea have attracted writers, composers, and artists for centuries, earning it a reputation as one of the most beautiful places in Italy.

History

Founded in the 5th century as a refuge from barbarian invasions, Ravello flourished as a prosperous maritime republic in the 11th and 12th centuries. The town aligned with the Norman kingdom and later fell under Neapolitan rule. By the 19th century it had become a romantic retreat: Wagner composed part of Parsifal here in 1880, inspired by the gardens of Villa Rufolo, and D.H. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf both drew inspiration from its serene heights.

What to See

Villa Rufolo dominates the town centre with its Moorish-Norman courtyard and terraced gardens overlooking the sea — the setting for the annual Ravello Festival of classical music each summer. Villa Cimbrone, a short walk away, enchants visitors with its Terrace of Infinity, lined with marble busts above a sheer drop to the coast. The 11th-century Duomo di Ravello preserves magnificent bronze doors and a rare mosaic ambo supported by twisted columns.

Getting There

Ravello is accessible by local bus from Amalfi (approximately 25 minutes). From Naples, take the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento or a ferry to Amalfi, then connect by bus. Driving on the narrow Amalfi Coast road is possible but demanding; visitors often park in Amalfi and take the bus up.

Find it on the map

See this place and what’s around it →

Google Maps See the location on a full map → Street View Walk around the place virtually → OpenStreetMap Free community cartography →