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“The coast between Reggio and Gaeta is the most beautiful in Italy. One of the most anchanting spot on it is Ravello, where many rich men live; one of these was exstemely rich and his name was Landolfo Rufolo”…(G. Boccaccio)As we see in the 4th novella in the 2 nd day of the Decameron, the scenary and the monuments of Ravello, which was founded by a roman colony in the 6th century A.D. were already famous centuries ago. Perched on a 350 ft high cliff overlooking the blue sea of the Amalfi Coast, it has conserved its historical monuments through the ages in a natural setting which has few equals in the world.One of the most important monuments is the Cathedral, founded in 1086, where one can admire the Ambo and the Pulpit decorated with Byzantine masaics, relics as the bust of Sigilgaita Rufolo, the splendid bronze doors by Barisano da Trani and the museum situated in the crypt.Villa Rufolo is the garden where Richard Wagner found his magical garden of Klingsor for the 2nd act of Parsifal, on May 26th 1880; it is for that reason that the Wagner Festival take place every year, during the month of July. It is also the seat of European University Centre for the Cultural Heritage.

 

 

 
Villa Cimbrone the other garden of Ravello, is famous for its breathtaking Belvedere, from which one can admire “ the most beautiful view in the world” as says Gore Vidal, honorary citizen of Ravello. Other who have stayed here are D.H. Lawrence, author of “Lady Chatterley’s lover” and Greta Garbo, who came here with her lover Leopold Stokowski, as inscribed on a plaque at the entrance of the avenue of the villa.Complete the list of monuments which can be visited as one strools along the streets and alleyways of this enchanting town: the church of San Giovanni del Toro, with its Pulpit in mosaic by Alfano da Termoli; the churches of Santa Maria a Gradillo and Santissima Annunziata, that has recently been restored and transformed into a conference hall; Villa Episcopio, that was Villa di Sangro, where King Vottorio Emanuele III signed his abdication in favour of his son Umberto II and where Iacqueline Kennedy also stayed on a memorable holiday; the cloister of the 13th century convent of St. Francesco with his library, and the Piazza Fontana Moresca.