Ravello
Holiday apartments

André Gide, French author and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, once said that Ravello was closer to the sky than the shore.

As a visitor to this place today, you cannot but agree when winding your way around the hairpin bends of the Dragone Valley up to the plateau Ravello is located on.

Location

Holiday apartments at Ravello, Scala and Pontone
- Costiera Amalfitana with panoramic view

It sits enthroned high above the sea – the town of Ravello, an architectural and historic gem on the Amalfi Coast. If you believe the legends to be true, the small town was founded around 500 AD by Roman aristocratic families who sought refuge there from the marauding barbarians from the north.

 

Given its location, Ravello quickly grew into a prospering center of maritime trade. Those times may be gone, but you can still feel that cosmopolitan spirit – you are sure to feel it, too, when spending your holidays at one of the charming holiday apartments we arrange for there!

Ravello - so close to the sky

André Gide, French author and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, once said that Ravello was closer to the sky than the shore. As a visitor to this place today, you cannot but agree when winding your way around the hairpin bends of the Dragone Valley up to the plateau Ravello is located on.

 

It came as no surprise that Ravello turned into a fashionable climatic health resort around the turn of the century.

Famous families on the Amalfi Coast

One of Ravello’s landmarks is Villa Rufolo, which was built by an aristocratic family in the 12th century and nowadays is a popular destination for excursions.

 

Landolfo Rufolo, a member of this patrician family, even became a literary celebrity: He is mentioned in Boccaccio’s Decamerone.

Ravello
Festival

The villa is of significance even in the history of music: Richard Wagner is said to have been inspired for the stage design of his opera Parsifal by the villa’s gardens.

 

Since 1953, Ravello has been hosting the “Ravello Festival” every year in summer. It is dedicated to and presents mainly musical performances from the oeuvre of the famous composer.
Do stop by while spending your holidays at one of the beautiful holiday accommodations we arrange for at or near Ravello.

 
 

Tourists then and now
- Holiday dreams come true at Ravello

Ravello has been and still is a popular destination. For centuries, in particular many artists, female and male alike, have been attracted to this place in Southern Italy.

 

Authors from all over the world, for example Virginia Woolf, Henrik Ibsen, Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote, strolled along the cliffs reflecting on their writing.

 

But not only poets, painters like Joan Mirò found peace and inspiration there, too.

 

Finally and last but not least, Ravello also turned into a hotspot of the jet set, of the wealthy and the beautiful, ranging from Jacky Kennedy to Humphrey Bogart, Barbra Streisand, Federico Fellini and Romy Schneider to Nicolas Cage and Ben Stiller.

Scala
– the oldest town on the Amalfi Coast

The small town of Scala across from Ravello may seem inconspicuous at first sight. A visit is, however, worthwhile from more than one point of view. First of all, it offers pleasant peace and quiet as well as authenticity compared to the more ‘touristic’ town of Ravello. Furthermore, art, culture and history such as can be found only there lie ‘hidden’ in its medieval center.

Scala is the oldest town on the Amalfi Coast and is said to have been founded by the fathers of the town of Melfi in the Basilicata region. Scala today is the largest community on the coast and includes six contrade (districts).

In order to get to the center of Scala, you pass along a sunny avenue lined by old linden trees. Almost instantly the impressive façade of the cathedral catches your eye. The cathedral dates back to the 11th century and is dedicated to Saint Lorenzo. Its architecture and design include Romanesque, Gothic and Rococo elements.

Those who love art are sure to find genuine treasures inside the church. The ceiling frescos date from the 18th century, the marble altar follows the style of the Renaissance, wooden statues of saints carry various relics in their breasts and the interior of the church harbors two crypts. The Cripta del Paradiso is the only Gothic structure on the Amalfi Coast.

And – when you step outside the cathedral, linger in Piazzetta San Lorenzo and enjoy the unique panorama of Ravello and the sea.

Pontone
– place of peace and quiet and retreat for the masters of Amalfi

The relaxing atmosphere at Pontone, one of Scala’s six districts, already appealed greatly to the Amalfitan noblemen of the 12th century. And, it radiates a certain kind of peace and quiet to this day. The village is traversed by small alleys and medieval archways, lies embedded in a sea of lemon groves and is flanked by Valle del Dragone and Valle del Canneto.

As two popular hiking trails start at Pontone, it is very attractive to active vacationers. One of the trails runs into idyllic Valle delle Ferriere, the second one runs to Torre dello Ziro via Monte Aureo. Neither trail wants for panoramic views.

Pontone, which developed around the church of San Giovanni Battisti, also offers a wonderful panoramic view of Amalfi and the sea. By the way, far into the late Middle Ages, wool from Apulia was processed in the piazza of the same name. Nowadays, the bar and two restaurants invite you to stop and linger there.

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