Once upon a time in Ravello, Italy

Visiting Ravello felt like stepping into the pages of a sleepy fairytale. You know the one: with an enchanted castle, cultivated rose gardens, and magic around every corner. Think Beauty and the Beast but Italy, not France.

Exploring Ravello

Today I’ll share moments from our visit to Ravello and take you with me to two of the most famous and beautiful spots: Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo. I’ll also show you around Ravello and share where we stayed, and good spots to eat to help give you ideas if you’re planning an Amalfi Coast getaway.

Ravello is tucked away in the mountains of the Amalfi Coast

VIlla Cimbrone

Once upon a time, in a mountainous village far, far away in Southern Italy, sat a beautiful estate. You have already seen glimpses of it in the photos above. Its name? Villa Cimbrone. The villa’s history is long and aristocratic, spanning all the way from the 11th century, which was Ravello’s golden era.

One of the most infamous spots at Villa Cimbrone is the iconic Infinity Terrace. Perched cliffside about 1200 feet above the sea, looking down is at once astonishing and deeply surreal. But the view makes it all worth it.

The Statue of Ceres is located in a temple that you walk through to get to the Infinity Terrace.

Take a leisurely garden stroll

The gardens at Villa Cimbrone are a picture of cultivated elegance. One has the feeling of being transported to another century entirely. With beautiful turrets, uniform and picturesque rose gardens, and a stunning mountainous view, Ravello really showcases its glory here.

One of the most beautiful spots in the gardens is the famed Rose Terrace. Lucy Beckett, a previous owner of the villa was an accomplished gardener and breeder of roses, including the "Rose of Ravello" in the garden in the 1930s.

Can you imagine tending to and nurturing a beautiful garden like this? I’m sure Lucy spent many a lovely and serene afternoon with her hands in the dirt and the fresh mountain air playing gently with her hair as she worked.

The walkways with purple blooms and dangling foliage almost defy imagination and definitely any attempt of my own to describe them.

Villa Cimbrone bucket list

When you arrive at Villa Cimbrone, my #1 tip to make the most of your visit is to make sure to grab a map at the front. This isn’t your normal dusty old map - you’ll like this one. Use it to navigate from one unique landmark to the next. Make sure to see a few of these famous ones:

Terrace of Infinity marble busts on a stunning terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. Steep drop and a great view of Ravello.
Stanza del Tè (Tea Room) a rectangular garden next to the rose garden that features a Moorish-style pavilion, four Roman-era columns, and some marvelous sculptures. Honestly reminds me of Beauty and the Beast.
Crypts/catacombs are a must-visit.

In your walk through the gardens, don’t forget to see:

Statua di Ceres (Statue of Ceres)
Poggia di Mercurio (Crest of Mercury)
Tempietto di Bacco (Little Temple of Bacchus)
Grotta di Eva (Eve’s cave)
Terrazza delle Rose (Rose Terrace)

As hard as it is to move on from the stunning Villa Cimbrone, it’s time to introduce you to another gem of Ravello, the illustrious Villa Rufolo. Ravello is known for its gardens and estates as I mentioned before. If you thought Villa Cimbrone was stunning, just wait til you see all that Villa Rufolo has to offer.

Villa Rufolo

Initially built in the 13th century, like most estates of its time, Villa Rufolo has of course undergone massive transformation since then. Arguably one of the most famous views in the Amalfi Coast is the famous “tree” and turrets photo shown below.

The garden of Villa Rufolo is known as the "Garden of the Soul" and it’s stunning. It has a rich history if you’re interested in looking up more about it.

An exquisite dining experience

Pina colada mocktail - Hotel Villa Fraulo, Ravello, Italy

I have to give a shout-out to the lovely Hotel Fraulo that we had lunch at when we first arrived in Ravello. From the stunning view, and the presentation of the food, to the mocktails and drinks, everything was divine. The overall dining presentation and experience were 5 stars.

It’s truly a beautiful space and I highly recommend stopping by for lunch for a fantastic view over the water. Make sure to explore the hotel as you leave.

Around town

Ravello truly is a treasure trove. Make sure to explore all the hidden nooks and crannies. Feel free to wander - you’ll find the most interesting places.

A peek into the gardens of the famous Hotel Belmond Caruso

Stunning Mediterranean views at every turn

Where we stayed

View On Airbnb Wagner Vacation Rental

In Ravello, we stayed at Casa Vacanze Wagner. The apartment we stayed at had a retired couple who were staying next door that had decided to stay for a month. One can see why! We had the loveliest balcony view and the QUIET. It was stunning.

After a busy action packed Amalfi Coast itinerary - Sorrento, Pompeii and Positano, we were in need of some quieter moments. Ravello is perfect for that. While you can get most of what you want to see out of Ravello in a day, we stayed two days and took our exploration at a slower pace which worked well for us to catch our breath before moving onto our final leg of the journey to Rome.

My favorite moment

My favorite moment of the trip was our last evening in Ravello when we grabbed a pizza from a local spot and headed back to watch the sunset from our balcony and soak in the views.

The absolute definition of Dolce Far Niente: the art of doing nothing.

This view wouldn’t be complete without a glass of refreshing Le Crodo lemon soda (or wine based on preference).

We spent two days in Ravello and looking back, it was truly one of the most wonderful parts of our trip. If we were to go back and relax at any of the Amalfi Coast locations we visited again, it would be Ravello hands down. There’s a certain peace to Ravello that seems inherent to its nature. Your guard comes down, relaxation is easy and your days feel simple in the best way possible.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to add the illustrious and not to be overlooked Ravello to your Amalfi Coast itinerary as it is truly a gem of south Italy.