5 MUST-SEE DESTINATIONS IN RAVELLO!

Ravello is, for sure, the hill town on the Amalfi Coast most loved by tourists. But what are the reasons for its popularity? Read the article and discover all the must-see destinations here in Ravello!

by Roberta Cascone

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Ravello Cathedral

1. The Cathedral Square

Ravello's Cathedral square is the nerve center of the town: it is a large open space, surrounded on one side by beautiful maritime pines, overlooked by restaurants, bars and typical small shops--one of the ideal places to enjoy an aperitivo on the Amalfi Coast!

2. The Cathedral

Ravello Cathedral is dedicated to the patron saint St. Pantaleon and St. Mary of the Assumption. It dates as far back as 1086: the bronze portal, a medieval masterpiece, is richly decorated and depicts as many as 54 episodes from the Old and New Testaments. Just impressive!

3. Villa Rufolo

Here is one of the iconic places on the Coast, along with the nearby Villa Cimbrone! Villa Rufolo is a monumental complex in the Arab-Norman style. Medieval architectural elements combine with magnificent blooming gardens overlooking the crystal clear sea of the Gulf of Salerno: visiting it is truly an unforgettable experience!

4. Villa Cimbrone

The Villa, which now also houses a hotel and a starred restaurant, has one of the most beautiful geometric gardens on the entire Coast. Not only can you admire rare plants and wonderful flowers here, but also statues, 18th-century busts, and, most importantly, the world-famous Terrace of Infinity. Well, what are you waiting for? You absolutely cannot miss it!

5. Oscar Niemeyer Concert Hall

Designed by the world-famous Brazilian architect Niemeyer and inaugurated in 2010, the Concert Hall is an innovative architectural structure that fits perfectly into the profile of the coastline of Ravello. Unfortunately, the auditorium is not open to the public and can only be visited during concerts, which are held throughout the year.

The garden of Villa Cimbrone is an example of an English garden. If you want to learn more about this and other gardens on the Amalfi Coast, read our dedicated article.
Villa Rufolo is even mentioned in a novella in Giovanni Boccaccio's “Decameron”!
In describing his grand work, Niemeyer said: "It is not the right angle that attracts me, nor is it the straight, hard, inflexible line created by man. What attracts me is the free, sensual curve. The curve I encounter in the mountains of my country, in my favorite woman, in the clouds of the sky and the waves of the sea. Of curves the whole universe is made. Einstein's curved universe."