Ravello is just a few kilometres east of the graceful town, Amalfi. Founded in the 5th century, it was a shelter against Barbarian invasions when the Roman empire fell. Then, Ravello became a vital port of the Maritime Republic of Amalfi in the 9th century. The inhabitants were involved in maritime trade with the Orient, and that gave it wealth and status. Those new merchants of that age had built castles, villas, churches, and civic buildings to present their wealth.
Today, located in the hills above the Amalfi coast, Ravello is home to many famous buildings, such as the Villa Cimbrone, Villa Rufolo, and the architectural design Oscar Niemeyer Auditorium. What makes Ravello known to the outside is the Ravello Festival and its concert society, which gives Ravello the name “The City of the Music”.

Once, I saw a photo of the picturesque landscape from Ravello on the Amalfi coast. The enchanting mountaintop setting and its remarkable coastal scenery in the picture have since captivated my memory. Years later, during our family’s 7-day trip to the Amalfi Coast, I have finally made my way to Ravello. We had planned one day for Ravello and the highlights of the day were:
- The coastline views in front of Oscar Niemeyer Auditorium
- Unique Amalfi coastal view from Villa Rufolo
- A pleasant lunch at the Garden Restaurant
- Watch the crowds in Piazza Duomo
- Ravello’s hidden neighbourhood
The coastline views in front of Oscar Niemeyer Auditorium
We followed the parking sign and parked our car inside a building. The parking place was spacious and was not even full on that day.
Stepped out of the parking lot, the joyful coastline view was just in front of us. The sea was so calm. And, the soft clouds were slowly moving in the blue sky.
Bellow us, Minori, the uncrowded seaside town, has terraced gardens up the rugged hillsides. It has a pleasant seafront with a wide cove.
Next to the pedestrian walkway, we saw this enormous building, the Oscar Niemeyer Auditorium, designed and named after the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. The architecture of the building resents a seamless curved line that looks like a sleeping beauty. Today, the “Oscar Niemeyer” Auditorium is the setting of the Ravello Festival.

Unique Amalfi coastal view from Villa Rufolo
Followed Via della Repubblica and passed a tunnel where most buses and taxis stopped. The elegant and magnificent Villa Rufolo is behind the tunnel, on the left side. To visit Villa Rufolo, you can either join a Ravello private walking tour or buy the tickets on-site.
The main sites of the Villa Rufolo are the Entrance Tower, the Main Tower, the terraces, the cloister in Moorish style and surrounded by some columns and the most beautiful view on the Amalfi Coast. Strolling among the enchanting gardens, I couldn’t stop taking pictures, including the one that ever captivated my memory.
Many quiet corners with benches provide a relaxing atmosphere. Its upper terrace gardens contain such as cypress trees, yuccas, and palms. I could imagine how the place had inspired German composer Richard Wagner to write the second act of his final opera, Parsifal. Since 1952, the Ravello Music Festival, an open-air concert to honor Wagner, takes place in Villa Rudolph every summer.


A lunch at the Garden Restaurant
We had spent several hours in Villa Rufolo until our stomachs started to grumble. The main square of Ravello is just outside of Villa Rufolo. Nearly every restaurant was full.
We went towards the tunnel again and decided to eat in the Garden Restaurant that belongs to a hotel. The restaurant offers simple food but a wide variety of drinks. It is more a bar than a restaurant.
The food was not cheap, but the view over the coast was impressive. I could see that Ravello is like a natural balcony overhanging on the Amalfi coast. I relaxed in front of the silk-blue sea while drinking a glass of wine and eating a plate of salad.

Watch the crowds in Piazza Duomo
Like in many European towns, the spiritual and social center of Ravello is the Duomo (Cathedral of Ravello). Founded in 1086, the Rufolo family had supported the construction of the church. The Arabic-inspired church has a combination of Baroque and Romanesque styles. Besides, its bell tower shows Moorish and Byzantine influence.
From the outside, it does not look so outstanding. But when you take a close look, it has several features. The central nave is supported by six spiraled columns sitting atop marble lions. The interior is made of sculpted white marble.
Another attraction is the two-room museum. It is accessible through a side entrance on the Via Richard Wagner. The collection of the museum features marble busts and slabs decorated with mosaics.
Restaurants and shops selling local products dominate the square in front of the cathedral. One snack bar is called “Klingsor, a memory of Richard Wagner as well. But the centre was not so appealing. We left the square after a short stay and went to Ravello’s neighbourhood.

Ravello’s hidden neighbourhood
Just followed Via S. Francesco behind the Hotel Rufolo, we entered the Ravello’s backstreet area. Passed an arched walkway, a little church (Chiesa S.Francesco dei Frati Minori Conventuali) on the right came to the sight.
The street is narrow and only allows pedestrians to pass. Several restaurants, bars, and hotels are alongside the way. Cats were sleeping on the ground, on the wall, and at the corners. They were more than the countable tourists.
Soon, we came across Via Santa Chiara, a panoramic small pedestrian path leading to the other famous site, Villa Cimbrone. There was a farm that grew organic products. Surprisingly, I saw Loofah, a type of vegetable I ate in my childhood. At that time, my grandfather planted Loofah on our rooftop balcony. The Loofah could grow long vines and thus formed a natural sun shed of our balcony. When the vegetable is fully ripened, it is fibrous like a scrubbing sponge. Therefore, we used it to clean the bathroom.
Then, we saw a sign “1500 steps to Atrani”. Since we didn’t plan to walk there, we turned back and followed Via Santissma Trinita. Several hotels are also on that street.
Some streets have two parts, one is a flat slope, and the other is with stairs. The flat part is the street for a type of narrow carts. Local hotels use those carts to deliver such as goods and luggage.
The street Via Santissma Trinita meets Via S. Francesco and Via Dei Rufolo. From there, we came back to the square.



Travel tips
Where to stay
Other than Amalfi or Salerno, Ravello is also a perfect base to explore the Amalfi coast. All hotels are within walking distance from the centre.
Suggested tours
Many international tourists tend to join a local tour group to visit the Amalfi coast. Some budget tours offer good values, such as Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello Tour on a Luxury Bus from Naples.
How to get there
- Take SITA buses from Salerno, Positano, or Sorrento and arrive at Amalfi. Then change to another SITA bus to reach Ravello. Or, walk up the hill to Ravello.
- While SITA buses are an excellent alternative to cars when traveling the Amalfi coast, they can become very crowded during the high traffic summer seasons. Make sure to check the bus schedule ahead.
- The main highways in this region that go along the Amalfi Coast are SS145, SS163, and SS373. From Atrani, you can take Via Castiglione to arrive at Ravello.



Thanks for the tip on joining a tour and how to get there. It’s very helpful. The view of the Hotel Villa Cimbrone is nice for garden weddings. I’d love to dine as well at the garden restaurant or bar as you say, haha!
I have heard of Amalfi and admire pictures from there but had no idea about Ravello, city of music. The views of breathtaking and there are so many beautiful things to do and capture. Hikes look so much fun. The view of Minori is lovely. The hotels look so inviting and it would be a dream to see a musical concert there. Thanks for sharing.
All I can say is, everything about Ravello is beautiful! Reading your blog is like walking with you exploring the town. Your pictures are beautiful, too! Blue sky, blue sea, gorgeous architecture, I definitely want to visit Ravello, the City of Music.
Wow, what impressive views. I haven’ been to the Amalfi Coast yet, but hope to one day. We’d probably do both hikes. Those hotels are so palacial!
I love Italy. Italian architecture, small narrow streets, wine, and food. But I haven’t been to Ravello yet. It’s on my list. And after your article and amazing photos, I would like to be there immediately. I would love to visit Oscar Niemeyer Auditorium and listen to one of the concerts in this city of music.
We loved Ravello, how lovely to read your post and above all enjoy your photographs to take me back. I hadn’t read up on its history when we went, so it’s interesting to learn that it was so important during the 9th Century. And I’m with you on the views, they truly are breathtaking. Walking around the town is such a pleasure, though it can get so crowded.
I was so excited to see this blog post. It has been a long time since we visited Ravello. So good to see it through your eyes. The views out over the Amalfi Coast truly are stunning. Each spot is just a little bit different. We loved walking around the small town. And resisted the urge to go home with a bag of pottery souvenirs. We did not hike down to Atrani. But did visit on a road trip. We also missed the hike up the Path of the Gods. A good reason to head back. Thanks for taking me back.
I have only done a few hours on the Amalfi coast and just drove the main coastal road around the peninsula. Dam, I have missed out on a lot of beauty but lucky I am going back here very soon so I will sure stop off a few places for a couple of days. Defo will stop off at Ravello, it’s so pretty! I love the views.
It looks like a gorgeous place to go – and those views are spectacular! I love going places where there are so many kitties, but I also wish they’d do something to help control the population (spay/neuter). I definitely would want to hike in that area someday!