Ravello Travel Guide

  Your ItalyItalia Travel Guide for Ravello… Laura Thayer

My Ravello…

“With breathtaking views and intimate gardens, Ravello is one of the most romantic spots on the Amalfi Coast. Perhaps this is why so many people from around the world choose the city for their weddings and honeymoons. Ravello’s charms have also attracted many famous writers and musicians, including D.H. Lawrence, Virginia Woolf and the composer Richard Wagner.

Today Ravello is called the “City of Music” since it hosts the annual summer Ravello Festival where you can attend world class concerts and dance performances in beautiful garden settings. ”

Read more about Laura and her Campania travel guides

 Events at Ravello

Ravello Attractions

Top 10 to see and do

1. Beautiful views of the Amalfi coastline
2. Villa Rufolo
3. Villa Cimbrone
4. Church of San Pantaleone
5. Shopping for ceramics
6. Coral Museum (Museo del Corallo)
7. Enjoy a relaxing drink in the Piazza Duomo
8. The Ravello Festival
9. Visit the neighboring village of Scala for a beautiful panorama view of Ravello
10. Church of San Giovanni del Toro

June - September
The Ravello Festival is an annual summer music and arts festival offering a variety of music, dance, lectures and art exhibitions. The performances take place throughout the beautiful Villa Rufolo gardens and in locations around Ravello. One of the most spectacular venues is a stage built every summer overlooking a magnificent view of the Amalfi Coast from the Villa Rufolo.

July
Ravello’s most important religious holiday falls on July 27th when the city celebrates their patron saint San Pantaleone. The blood of the saint is held in a reliquary and is on display in a dedicated chapel inside the Duomo. The event is festively celebrated with a procession and elaborate fireworks display.

 Ravello's typical food and drink

Crespolini
These small crêpes are a specialty of Ravello, where they are often filled with cheese and salami and baked before being covered with a rich white sauce and more cheese. This is a hearty and warm dish perfect for the chilly winter days in Ravello.

Piatti di Terra
While the Amalfi Coast is generally known for its fresh seafood dishes, Ravello’s location up in the mountains has imbued its local dishes with a more rustic flavor. In Ravello you can find excellent examples of piatti di terra, or typical recipes of the earth, including first and second dishes prepared with mushrooms collected from the nearby mountains and locally made salami and sausages.

Laura's spotlight 

Seeing Infinity
Walking out onto the Terrace of Infinity, located at the very tip of Ravello in the beautiful gardens of the Villa Cimbrone, you will see the sea and sky blending harmoniously and creating a feeling that you are truly seeing infinity. The dramatic views of the mountains and sea are some of the best on the Amalfi Coast. Enjoy an evening stroll through the Villa Cimbrone gardens, and head toward the Terrace of Infinity as the sun begins to set for an exceptional view as the sun drops behind the mountains above Amalfi.

 How to arrive at Ravello

Ravello is located high in the mountains along the famous Amalfi Coast and is accessible from nearby Naples, Sorrento and Salerno.

By Plane: The Naples Capodichino Airport is the closest airport to Ravello and provides easy access from many of Italy and Europe’s major cities, and from New York.

By Car: Head south out of the Naples via the A3 freeway toward Salerno. Take the exit for Angri and follow signs for the Valico di Chiunzi / Costeria Amalfitana. You will drive through the towns of Pagani, S. Egidio del Monte Albino, and Corbara before the road begins to climb over the mountains. Once over the pass, follow signs to Ravello. From the Amalfi Coast road (SS163), follow the signs at Castiglione and take the narrow, winding road up to Ravello.

By Bus: Public SITA buses regularly circulate between Amalfi (a transfer point), Ravello and Scala.

By Boat: Once you arrive in Amalfi, which can be reached by ferry and bus services from Naples, Amalfi and Salerno, you can continue to Ravello on the public buses. Please note that ferry schedules are more limited during the off season winter months.

Other: The closest train stations to Ravello are in Naples, Sorrento or Salerno where you can continue via bus or ferry.