Things to do in Ravello
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Villa Cimbrone
Some way east of Piazza del Duomo, the 20th-century Villa Cimbrone is worth seeking out for the vast views from the delightfully ramshackle gardens. The best viewpoint is the Belvedere of Infinity, an awe-inspiring terrace lined with fake classical busts.
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Cathedral
Forming the eastern flank of Piazza del Duomo, the cathedral was originally built in 1086 but has since undergone various facelifts. The facade is 16th century, even if the central bronze door is an 1179 original; the interior is a late-20th-century interpretation of what the original must once have looked like. The pulpit is particularly striking, supported by six twisting columns set on marble lions and decorated with flamboyant mosaics of peacocks, birds and dancing lions. Note also how the floor is tilted towards the square – a deliberate measure to enhance the perspective effect. To the right of the central nave, stairs lead down to the cathedral museum and its mod…
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Ravello Concert Society
You don't have to come in high summer to catch a concert. Ravello's programme of classical music begins in March and continues until late October. It reaches its crescendo in June and September with the International Piano Festival and Chamber Music Weeks. Performances by top Italian and international musicians are world-class and the two venues (Villa Rufolo and the Convento di Santa Rosa in Conca dei Marini) are unforgettable.
Tickets, bookable by phone, fax or online. For further information and reservations, contact the Ravello Concert Society.
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Walks
Ravello is the starting point for numerous walks - some of which follow ancient paths through the surrounding Lattari mountains. If you've got the legs for it you can walk down to Minori, or, heading the other way, to Amalfi, via the ancient village of Scala. Once a flourishing religious centre with more than a hundred churches, Scala is now a sleepy place where the wind whistles through empty streets and gnarled locals go patiently about their daily chores.
Ask at the Ravello tourist office for further walking information.
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Medea
If you're after something ceramic but are fed up with the ubiquitous range of gaudy yellow fruit bowls, then look no further. At this gallery-cum-laboratory-cum-shop, you'll find an interesting selection of original handmade vases, lamps, animals, figurines, plates and tiles. Particularly outstanding are the huge red and black vases by ceramic artist Ugo Marano. And if you're wondering, yes, they cost a bomb - for a life-sized vase expect to fork out in the region of around €12000.
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Villa Rufolo Gardens
To the south of the cathedral, Villa Rufolo is famous for its fabulous 19th-century gardens. Commanding mesmerising views, they are packed with exotic colours, artistically crumbling towers and luxurious blooms. On seeing them in 1880, Wagner wrote that he had found the garden of Klingsor (setting for the second act of his opera Parsifal ). Today the gardens are used to stage concerts during the town’s celebrated festival.
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Ristorante Palazzo della Marra
Sit down to innovative regional cuisine under the vaulted ceiling of this tastefully restored 12th-century palazzo. The menu strikes a good balance between seafood and meat with dishes ranging from paccheri with sword fish and prawns to smoked duck with fennel cream and beef fillet in thyme. Desserts are also given a creative touch, as in tiramisu with cream of pistachio. The lunchtime menu, comprising a pasta, main course and side dish, is good value.
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Cumpà Cosimo
If you're looking for some honest down-to-earth Italian grub, you can't do much better than this popular trattoria. An informal family affair - meat comes from the family butcher, vegetables and fruit are homegrown, and the house wine is homebrew - it serves excellent handmade pasta, tasty gnocchi and some fine main courses. House favourites include rabbit with tomatoes and grilled crayfish.
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Profumi della Costiera
The limoncello produced and sold here is made with local lemons (known to experts as sfusato amalfitano) according to traditional recipes, so no preservatives and no colouring. And it's not just the owners who say so - all bottles carry the IGP (Indicazione Geografica Proteta; Protected Geographical Indication) quality mark.
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Ravello Festival
Between June and mid-September the Ravello Festival turns much of the town centre into a stage. Events ranging from orchestral concerts and chamber music to ballet performances, film screenings and exhibitions are held in atmospheric outdoor venues, most notably the famous overhanging terrace in the Villa Rufolo gardens.
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Duomo
Once a flourishing religious centre with more than a hundred churches, Scala is now a sleepy place where the wind whistles through empty streets and gnarled locals go patiently about their daily chores. In the central square, the Romanesque Duomo retains some of its 12th-century solemnity.
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Da Salvatore
Located just before the Garden Hotel, this average-looking nosh spot has an exceptional view, not to mention creative dishes like tender squid on a bed of puréed chickpeas with spicy peperoncino. In the evening, head in for some of the best wood-fired pizza this side of Naples.
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Ristorante Pizzeria Vittoria
Exceptional pizzas aside, this elegantly subdued restaurant serves a wonderful sliced octopus on green salad with olive oil and lemon, and an innovative chickpea and cod antipasto.
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Rossellinis
Palazzo Sasso has a 20m swimming pool which commands great views and its Michelin-starred restaurant, Rossellinis, is one of the best in town.
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Take Away da Nino
Fast food Ravello-style – come here for takeaway pizza and crunchy fried nibbles.
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