Description of the attraction
Villa Rufolo is located in the historic center of the resort town of Ravello on the Amalfi Riviera and overlooks the Cathedral Square. The first building on this site was built in the 13th century, and in the 19th century it underwent significant changes.
Initially, Villa Rufolo belonged to the powerful and wealthy Rufolo family, which was very successful in commerce (one of its representatives - Landolfo Rufolo - was even immortalized by Boccaccio in his Decameron). The villa was then owned by other clans such as Confalone and Muscettola. Around the middle of the 19th century, it was sold to the Scotsman Francis Neville Reid, who initiated a large-scale reconstruction of the building. It was then that the villa acquired its current appearance.
You can get to Villa Rufolo through the passage in the arched tower. From there, a short path leads to a cleared area overlooked by Torre Maggiore, facing the bell tower of the Cathedral of Ravello. It also offers breathtaking views of the city below, the Amalfi Riviera and the shores of the Gulf of Salerne with its gardens blooming all year round.
Of particular interest are the villa's large patio, designed as a covered gallery, and several rooms that have been converted into a small museum. The famous German composer Richard Wagner stayed in this villa in 1880, who was literally struck by the beauty of this place. In memory of the great guest, a Wagner concert is held here annually.
