With a population of just 2,500, Ravello is one of Italy’s most initimate gems.

Located on top of a mountain about three miles from Amalfi, the city looks out over the decadent blue Mediterranean.  

Trust me - on your first trip to the Amalfi coast,  it’s worth every euro to book an experienced driver who will not only get you there safely and surely, but will serve as a guide.  All the hotels offer this service; just make sure you request a driver who speaks English and knows the area well.  (If you’re lucky you’ll get one that plays Dino and sings along too.)

Almost too beautiful for words, Ravello is a terrace overlooking the sea surrounded by the hills of the Amalfi coast.   Be prepared to walk, as the most intriguing and scenic places are up in the hills and your car can only drop you off in centro.

From there you’ll explore Ravello on foot.  Walk up the footpath adjacent to the cathedral of San Pantaleone to the Villa Maria (pictured below). This beautiful converted villa is a charming inn with a superb restaurant looking out at the sea and the countryside from terraced gardens.  The pasta and fresh seafood are sublime and relatively inexpensive.

Next, walk up the narrow, winding path to the Villa Cimbrone, which is dizzyingly perched on the highest spot in Ravello.  The Cimbrone estate dates from the 9th century and was painstakingly restored by an English Duke in the early 1900’s.  An elegantly beautiful villa with its own parkland and gardens, it is truely a place you should experience at least once in your life.

I’m booking my return trip today!

Taraci’s Tip of The Day:  Ravello, Italy is the perfect destination to include in your motivational award program!