Iconic image of Ravello
Perché ci-dessus Amalfi, à quelque 350 metres au dessus de la Méditerranée, est la petite ville de Ravello, moins connu que ses voisins Amalfi et Positano, mais la plus belle. C’est un ville des villas élégants édifiées au Moyen Âge, des ruelles pavées et des jardins ombrés de pins parasols et de palmiers. C’est prisé pour son panorama. De là, on aperçoit tout le golfe de Salerne avec ses vergers en terrasse, et même, loin au sud, les montagnes du Cilento. Magnifique !
Perched above Amalfi, about 350 meters (.2 miles) above the Mediterranean, is the small town of Ravello, less known than its neighbors Amalfi and Positano, but (in my opinion) more beautiful. It’s a town of elegant villas built in the Middle Ages, narrow cobblestone streets and gardens shaded by umbrella pines and palm trees. Ravello is prized for its panoramas….the Bay of Salerno in one direction and the mountains of Cilento in the other. And everywhere you see luscious green terraces of lemon trees (we’re talking Amalfi lemons here which are HUGE!). Magnificent!
Bay of Salerno and town of Maiori (I think)
Bay of Salerno and terraced lemon trees....view from Villa Rufolo gardens
View from Belvedere Terrace of Villa Rufolo
Bridal party and lemonade truck.....against backdrop mountains of Cilento
Je ne ceci ai pas su, mais depuis plus de mille ans, Ravello perchée aimante les écrivains, les acteurs et les artistes du monde entier….Boccace, Virginia Wolfe, André Gide, Truman Capote, Rudolf Noureev, Paul Newman. Pour eux, cette ville est bien plus qu’une villégiature chic, c’est une muse. C’est pourtant à un musicien que l’on doit la phrase la plus fameuse jamais prononcée sur Ravello : Richard Wagner. En 1880, dans l’enciente de la villa Rufolo, Wagner a eu une révélation : « J’ai trouvé les jardins de Klingsor ! »
I didn’t know this, but for more than a thousand years, Ravello has attracted writers, actors and artists from all over the world…Bocaccio, Virginia Wolfe, André Gide, Truman Capote, Rudolf Nuryiev, Paul Newman, to name just a few. For these artists, Ravello is much more than a chic resort town….it is a muse. It was Richard Wagner, however, who made the most famous statement about Ravello. In 1880, while visiting the villa Rufolo, Wagner had a revelation: “I’ve found the gardens of Klingsor!” It was a profoundly important statement for two reasons: Wagner’s excitement after visiting the Villa’s gardens led to the composition of a major portion of his final opera, Parsifal, and his gratitude towards the town of Ravello inspired a return of appreciation with the creation of a summer music festival in his honor. The internationally acclaimed Ravello Music Festival is often referred to as the Wagner Festival for this reason. Read more about Ravello's role in the creation of Parsifal here.
Villa Rufolo dates from the 13th century, but is known for it's beautiful gardens which inspired Wagner. What remains of the villa houses the offices of the music festival.
Moorish Courtyard
Contemporary sculpture
Group from music camp posing on Belvedere Terrace and yes, that's a figure of a blue man in the fountain....why is he there? No idea! Perhaps Blue Man Group vacationed here?
Platform that extends out from Belvedere Terrace during the music festival (July and August)....I want to return for this, in particular for a pre-dawn performance that ends with the rising sun...how spectacular would that be?
We found a delightful small piazza just a short walk up from the main streets where the only commercial establishments were a hotel and restaurant.
Amalfi lemons!
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