Villa Rufolo

Villa Rufolo dates from the 13th century and stands in the heart of Ravello's historic centre, opposite the cathedral square. It takes its name from the wealthy Rufolo merchant family; a Landolfo Rufolo appears in Boccaccio's "Decameron". The Torre Maggiore and the towers with their Moorish-influenced forms are eye-catching, as is the cloister in the upper garden, lined by avenues of lime trees and a chapel. In the 19th century the Scotsman Francis Neville Reid had the dilapidated complex restored. In May 1880 Richard Wagner visited the villa and found inspiration here for Klingsor's magic garden in "Parsifal".

The terraces look out over the Amalfi Coast and the Gulf of Salerno. The stage of the Ravello Festival stands in the lower garden. Allow about one to two hours and arrive early, before it gets busy. Use the car parks outside the centre, as Ravello's lanes are narrow.