Ravello

Ravello - A small, incomparbly beautiful village which has attracted the most famous people over the centuries.The first one to be astonished by such beauty was the writer Giovanni Boccaccio who quotes it in his Decameron. It was the year 1350 and since then so many international celebrities have been enchanted by the sights of this place. Located on a promontory 350 mt above sea levels. In addition to the cathedral of St Pantaleone, the Roman churches and wonderful landscapes, Ravello worth a visit for its two pearls . Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone. Sourced with thanks from Sorrento.info/Ravello "The list of mythical resorts along the spectacular winding corniche that runs along what is, quite simply, Europe's most magnificent stretch of coast - Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and above all Ravello - conjure up an irresistible mixture of glamorous celebrity hideaways and breathtaking natural scenery. Situated 350 metres above the sea, perched on a craggy cliffside, Ravello commands the ultimate panorama over the Amalfi coast, a magical location that the French poet, Andre Gide, evocatively described as "between the sky and the sea". It is the ideal site to base yourself for exploring a unique landscape that has inspired the likes of composers Richard Wagner and Edward Grieg, the painters William Turner and Miro, and authors, D.H.Lawrence, Tennessee Williams and Gore Vidal, who still spends part of each year here. Greta Garbo successfully sought refuge from the crowds and prying paparrazi in Ravello, and ever since it has been a favourite haven for Hollywood stars.

Ravello sits high up on the mountains which line the Amalfi coast, on the headpoint of two deep valleys, and there is only one place to begin your visit - the immaculate ornamental gardens of the thirteenth century Villa Rufolo. This garden of perfectly laid-out flower beds, lush Mediterranean vegetation, palm trees and fountains, tapers off at a vast 'terrazzo' that offers an unparalled vista along the coast and out over the deep-blue sea, though don't look down if you don't have a head for heights as the drop is breathtakingly sheer. If Villa Rufolo has a rival for stunning panoramic views, then it is just across the other side of Ravello, at the Villa Cimbrone, whose gardens have been described as the "terrace of infinity". The architecture of this nineteenth century villa is wonderfully eclectic, an intriguing mix of neo-classical and medieval, swirling Moorish motifs and noble Roman statues. Perhaps it should come as no surprise to learn that the creator of this "folly" was an eccentric English aristocrat!. Down in the centre of Ravello, there is plenty more cultural sightseeing, and not be missed is the intricate eleventh century Cathedral, looking right over the town's main square, the Piazza Duomo. But the real joy of spending time in what is still a small village is to wander around the tempting boutiques hidden away down narrow sidestreets and then to indulge in the European pastime of sitting at the table of an old-fashioned trattoria to watch the theatre of daily local life being played out in front of you. Order a plate of "bavette" pasta in a delicate sauce of freshly caught 'triglie' - red mullet - accompanied by a bottle of the excellent regional wine, Fiano di Avellino, or a Greco di Tufo, from vineyards that date back to ancient Greek and Roman times. And if you have arrived during one of Ravello's many Music Festivals - it is known as the "City of Music" - you will have time for what the Italians call a 'passeggiata" - a gentle wander round - before taking your seat before the sun sets, for a world class open-air concert in the gardens of the Villa Rufolo in Ravello. Sourced with thanks from Hotel Caruso Ravello