Villa Rufolo Belvedere, Ravello
Perched 350 metres above the sea in the hilltop town of Ravello, the terrace garden of Villa Rufolo offers what many consider the single greatest view on the entire Amalfi Coast — a sweep of coastline that inspired Richard Wagner to set the second act of Parsifal here in 1880.
The Gardens and the View
The villa dates to the 13th century and its Moorish-Norman tower and cloister are worth exploring, but the real destination is the Belvedere Terrace at the garden's edge. In summer the flowerbeds blaze with dahlias and geraniums, framing a panorama that stretches from Capo d'Orso to the distant silhouette of Capri.
Go late afternoon when the light turns golden and the tour groups thin out. The terrace faces almost due west, making it one of the few viewpoints on the coast perfectly aligned for a classic sunset shot.
Ravello Festival
Every July and August the Ravello Festival stages orchestral concerts on an open-air stage built right on the belvedere, with the sea as the backdrop. Tickets sell out weeks in advance but the experience of hearing Beethoven with that view is genuinely life-altering.
Even outside festival season, Ravello's traffic-free piazza, the Duomo with its 12th-century bronze doors, and the quieter Villa Cimbrone gardens (another 10-minute walk) make this the most rewarding half-day excursion from the coast road.
More of Amalfi Coast (Campania)
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Amalfi Coast (Campania) →
