Ravello

Ravello sits like a natural balcony overlooking the Gulf of Salerno, from where you can peer down on Amalfi and the nearby towns of Minori and Maiori. The seven Kms drive from Amalfi along the "Valle del Dragone", passes through the soaring mountains and deep ravines that characterise the area -watch the hairpin turns. You can continue inland across the mountains and down to Angri to link with A3 to Naples and Nocera for A3 for Salerno and A30 for Caserta & Rome. Things to see Cathedral San Pantaleone (Piazza Vescovado): Dates back to the 11th century and features an impressive marble pulpit with six lions carved at its base. There is a small Museum in the crypt containing religious artifacts and some marbles from Villa Rufolo. Villa Rufolo - It includes a series of buildings in the Arab-Sicilian style. Here Boccaccio placed the merry company of the Decameron and Wagner found inspiration and wrote the third act of Parsifal. The villa was built in the 13th century for the wealthy Rufolos and housed several popes, as well as Charles I of Anjou. From the terraces there is a magnificent view over the bay. The villa's gardens are the setting for the Festival Musicale di Ravello each June. Open daily from 09:00 a.m. to 01:00 p.m. and from 03:00 p.m. to 07:00 p.m. - free entrance. Villa Cimbrone - The villa was built at the beginning of last century in a medieval-like style. It includes a building with two towers, a courtyard and an open vaulted terrace-room called Cripta. At the end of a straight avenue through the lush gardens there is the Belvedere Cimbrone, the most advanced point of the ridge on which Ravello lies. Not to be missed. Open daily from 09:00 a.m. to 01:00 p.m. and from 03:00 p.m. to 07:00 p.m.