Photo Journal: Villa Rufolo

The Amalfi Coast, Italy, is dotted with historic villas and beautiful gardens, many open to the public to visit. Ravello is home to two popular villas, Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo, but with limited time on our hands, we chose to just visit Villa Rufolo.

Located just off the central Piazza Duomo, Villa Rufolo stands proud on the cliff side, high within the mountains, with a spectacular view overlooking the coast and the villages below. To think this was once someone’s home is unreal. Talk about kerb appeal 🙂

Dating back to the 13th century, the villa was built for (and named after) a local wealthy family called the Rufolo’s. Alas, the Rufolo’s faced financial problems which left them with no choice but to sell their beloved villa. Over the following years, the villa exchanged hands several times, however sadly became neglected and subsequently fell into a state of disrepair.

Many years later in the 19th century the villa was bought by Scottsman Francis Neville Reid who restored the villa to its former glory. To this day, many of those Arab and Sicilian features can still be seen throughout the villa.

The villa boasts pretty gardens, winding pathways, a tower, a museum, courtyards, but the most impressive part of the villa, for me, was the Belvedere. Situated right on the edge of the cliffs, surrounded by upper and lower gardens, the Belvedere hosts the annual Ravello Music Festival. During the summer months, talented artists from around the world travel to Ravello to perform.

Have a scroll through the below photos to see more of Villa Rufolo

Villa Rufolo is just steps away from the pretty Piazza Duomo

The Villa entrance was built for decoration, rather than for protection

Enter via the grand Torre d’ingresso

Purchase your tickets at the small ticket booth located Just inside the tower entrance

Walk past the lime trees to reach the first of the main buildings

Immediately you’ll be struck by the Gothic architectural influences such as the arches in this photo

These pretty flower boxes

The Sala dei Cavellieri – the tower and garden pavillion

One of the many courtyards throughout the villa

These pretty arches overlook the Belvedere

During the summer months you’ll find blossoming flowers everywhere

The seating area of the Beleverdere, ready for 100’s of guests during the summer concerts

the Belvedere stage with its spectacular backdrop of the Amalfi Coast

Coastal views over the small villages of Minori and Maiori

One of many pathways linking the courtyards and gardens

Clock / watch tower

Stroll through the gorgeous gardens

Tree lined gardens

The entrance to the Sala da Pranzo (dining room)

The entrance to the Sala da Pranzo (dining room)

Inside the Sala da Pranzo (dining room)

A small enclosure with various exotic plants

After a stroll through the villa, head back to the Piazza Duomo for a coffee (or gelato!) looking out the main church