# Villa Rufolo

> Villa Rufolo dates from the 13th century and stands in the heart of Ravello's historic centre, opposite the cathedral square.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/places/villa-rufolo-ravello/

A medieval villa with Moorish-style cloister and terraced gardens high above the Amalfi coast, with a long view over the sea. Arrive early to avoid crowds, and use the car parks outside the centre, as Ravello's lanes are narrow.

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.

- **Nearest town:** Ravello, Italy
- **Category:** History & culture
- **GPS:** 40.6490, 14.6117

## Good to know

**Best time to go:** The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June, August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

**Getting there:**

- **Italy: Motorway tolls.** Tolls on most autostrade; pay at the barrier by card or cash. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
- **Amalfi Coast road (SS163).** Size limits for motorhomes and trailers (length 7.5 m). Alternative: Park in Sorrento or Salerno and continue by bus or ferry along the coast.

## Sources

- [Villa Rufolo – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Rufolo)
- [Villa Rufolo Gardens – italia.it](https://italia.it/en/campania/salerno/ravello/villa-rufolo-gardens)

## Nearby

- [Positano](https://camping-spirit.com/places/positano/) – 11 km
- [Scavi di Pompei](https://camping-spirit.com/places/pompeii/) – 15 km
- [Mount Vesuvius crater path](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b11-vesuvius/) – 25 km
- [Herculaneum excavations](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b11-herculaneum/) – 28 km

## FAQs

### Where is Villa Rufolo?

Villa Rufolo is in Ravello, Italy, at GPS 40.6490, 14.6117. It is about 6 km from Agerola.

### Can you camp near Villa Rufolo?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Agriturismo il Campanile, about 2 km away; within 25 km there are 29 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

### What is there to see near Villa Rufolo?

Places worth a stop nearby: Positano (11 km), Scavi di Pompei (15 km), Mount Vesuvius crater path (25 km) and Herculaneum excavations (28 km).

### When is the best time to visit Villa Rufolo?

The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June, August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)