Villa Rufolo

Villa Rufolo's creation started in 1270, by one of the area's richest Patricians, Nicolo Rufolo, it was built on a ledge and at the height of its importance in the 13th century it could boast "more rooms than there are days in a year". Part of this immense heritage has been eroded by time and neglect, but much has been rescued primarily by Scottish Botanist and Art Historian, Sir Francis Neville Reid, who acquired the Villa in 1851.

Frank at the entrance of Rufolo (Torre d'ingresso)

The original nucleus of the villa includes a moorish courtyard (Cortile)

originally laid out around three sides

3 floors high

with some Arabic influence

Below the Tower of Sala dei Cavalieri with its enormous Norman ogives/arches.

Think this columned area below may have been the dining room in 13th century

outside courtyard

The lower gardens re-designed by Neville Reid are delightful

These gardens enchanted the composer Richard Wagner, who they say found them as an inspiration for the second act of his Parsifal.

Since 1953 - every summer, the Ravello Festival of symphonic concerts (3 or 4 per week) are held in honour of Richard Wagner Now on a massive elevated stage projecting out over the Amalfi Coast which is erected each year at the start of the Festival Season (copy of postcard)

The twin towers of the church Dell'Annunziata

In 1974 the organisers of these concerts (the Provincial Tourism office of Salerno) gained some funding to acquire Villa Rufolo.

Some parts of the Villa were given to the European University Centre of Cultural Heritage.

Presently the management of this monumental structure has been assigned to the Ravello Foundation.

The wisteria was stunning at Villa Rufolo

Another break while waiting for the bus to take us back down the mountain to Amalfi.