Ravello is located on the ridge projecting from the mountain that divides the Valle del Dragone (Dragon's Valley) and del Regina. Based at 350 meters on the sea level, Ravello overhangs the underlying towns of Minori and Maiori. This enchanted place is among the most beautiful in the whole Amalfi Coast, with an intense and unique landscape. Ravello is renowned for its peacefulness and the deep fascination it emanates from each corner and its image is mostly connected with villas with breathtaking views seen all around the world by pictures.

Villa Cimbrone is renowned for its exciting lookout terrace: Gore Vidal, the famous American writer and honorary citizen of Ravello, says it is the most beautiful panorama in the world. This villa had been bought in 1904 by Ernest William Beckett who in 15 years, with the help of local authorities, transformed it into a museum with both ancient and modern pieces of art. Among the most famous guests if his villa we cite: David Herbert Lawrence (author of the novel "Lady Chatterley's Lover") and Greta Garbo, during her elopement with Leopold Stokowski, as remembered by a marble inscription at the beginning of the path. In the garden, near the lookout terrace there are: a bronze statue of Mercury, the tea pavillon, several marbles and statues. Going on, there are the Eve's Grotto and the Baccus' Temple, where are the mortal remains of Lord Beckett.

Villa Rufolo was initially owned by some local noble family: the Rufolo, the Confalone, the Muscettola and The D'Afflitto. Finally it was bought by the Scottish Francis Neville Reid, who called to restructure it Michele Ruggiero, who after became the director of Pompeii Ruins. In 1975 it has passed under the control of the Provincial Office for Tourism of Salerno. Since 1953 in the garden of Villa Rufolo, which inspired Wagner for the magic garden of Klingsor in the 2nd act of the music drama Parsifal, is hosted a prestigious music festival, held each year in the first half of July. For the occasion it is active a service of buses joining all hotels on the Amalfi Coast.  [ More...]