Perched 365 meters above Italy's Amalfi Coast, this medieval town has two 13th-century villas with gardens overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and hosts classical concerts each summer.
Ravello perches 365 meters above the Tyrrhenian Sea on Italy's Amalfi Coast. You can walk through Villa Rufolo's garden where Wagner composed parts of Parsifal, or stand at Villa Cimbrone's marble-lined terrace to see the Mediterranean stretch to the horizon. The town comes alive with classical music during summer evenings, when orchestras perform in open-air gardens and modern concert halls.
Transportation Options to Ravello
You'll need to take a 15-minute drive up winding mountain roads from Amalfi town to reach Ravello. SITA buses run every hour from Amalfi's main terminal between 7am and 8pm, with fewer services on Sundays. From Naples International Airport, private transfers take 90 minutes. If you choose public transport, you'll need to change buses in Sorrento and Amalfi, making the journey about three hours long.
Villa Rufolo's Gardens Through the Seasons
Villa Rufolo, built in the 13th century, combines Norman towers with Moorish-style archways. In spring, wisteria covers the stone walls in purple blooms, while summer brings hundreds of rose varieties to the terraced beds. Wagner visited these gardens in 1880 while working on his opera Parsifal. You can visit daily from 9am to sunset, with later closing times during summer concert season.
Exploring Villa Cimbrone's Grounds
Villa Cimbrone stretches along a promontory, ending at the Terrace of Infinity where marble busts line the viewpoint overlooking the Gulf of Salerno. As you walk through the grounds, you'll find the Temple of Bacchus with its stone columns, a Tea Room encircled by old pine trees, and a Crypt with medieval stone carvings. Each path gives you different views of the coastline and mountains.
Music Venues and Performances
From July to September, orchestras perform nightly in Villa Rufolo's gardens during the Ravello Festival. The Oscar Niemeyer Auditorium, a white curved structure built in 2011, holds 400 people for year-round concerts. Between April and October, you can attend chamber music performances in medieval churches through the Ravello Concert Society.
Walking Routes from Ravello
You can walk down 1,500 stone steps from Ravello to Atrani, passing through lemon groves and small stone chapels. The path takes about an hour to complete, with benches along the way for coastal views. Another trail leads to Minori through the Valley of the Mills, where you can see abandoned medieval paper mills. Bring proper walking shoes for both routes.
Wine Production and Local Food
The mountain slopes around Ravello support vineyards that produce Costa d'Amalfi Ravello DOC wines. Local winemakers grow both red and white grape varieties on terraced hillsides. In town restaurants, you'll find scialatielli pasta served with fresh-caught fish and seafood. Many dining rooms face west, making dinner coincide with sunset over the coast.
