RAVELLO
Your accommodation will be at a 5-star hotel (below) in Ravello overlooking the sea (photo below). Transfers to the sea and boat rides around the bay included in your stay.

RAVELLO was an important town of the Maritime Republic of Amalfi, an important trading power in the Mediterranean between 839 and around 1200. Villa Rufolo (1270), built by Nicola Rufolo, one of the richest men of Ravello, rests on a ledge and it has become a famous attraction for thousands of visitors. The villa was mentioned by Giovanni Boccaccio in his Decameron and it is the place where Richard Wagner in 1880 was inspired for the stage design of his opera Parsifal. In the northern Amalfi coast, this is Marena’s favorite.

As in most Italian towns, Ravello’s heart is around the Duomo (Cathedral) with the Piazza del Vescovado affording views over the surrounding mountainous countryside. In fact, although it is obviously touristic, Ravello doesn’t have the bustle of the centre of Amalfi and Positano and can be a relaxing place just to sit and ponder in the shade of the surrounding trees.

The 11th century Duomo has (like Amalfi’s Cathedral) 12th century brass doors and below in its crypt is a museum with religious artifacts. To its right you will see the 13th century Villa Rufolo. It was Wagner’s visit to its gardens in 1880 whilst composing Parsifal that led him to write “The enchanted garden of Klingsor has been found”. From this, in 1953, the annual summer Ravello Music Festival was created. Despite it being popularly known as the Wagner Festival, it in fact covers a wide variety of music and performance.

Ravello’s Historic Centre
The effective branding of Ravello as a musical/literary venue is based upon the number of famous 18th and 19th century visitors including; Turner, Ruskin, E.M. Forster, Virginia Woolf, D.H. Lawrence (reputedly part of Lady Chatterley’s Lover was written here?) Graham Greene, Tennessee Williams, Leonard Bernstein and Gore Vidal.

Other places to see include the Terrace of the Infinite (gardens) of the Villa Cimbrone, the 10th century Chiesa di San Giovanni del Toro and the 11th century Chiesa di Santa Maria a Gradillo which in medieval times was Ravello’s parish church and a venue for public meetings.

Through a large tunnel beyond the Villa Rufolo is another opportunity for views south along the Amalfi Coast.

CAPRI

Capri is an Island in the Bay of Naples offering a variety of things to do for a full day trip:

Piazza Umberto I
Landing at the docks, you find yourself in the town of Capri. The heart of the town is Piazza Umberto I, with cafes and boutiques located in the square and along the streets around it. Capri is a pedestrian zone.
From P.Umberto I, you can visit Arco Naturale (the natural arch) on foot by following the signs for Matermania.
From P. Umberto I, you can also visit the Gardens of Augustus, a Cathusian monestary.

Villa Jovis
Climb a little from Piazza Umberto I to Monte Tiberio, where there are the ruins of Villa Jovis, home of the Emperor Tiberius between AD 27 and AD 37.

Blue Grotto
Take a boat to this world-famous cave accessible only from the sea. You are only allowed to swim in it if you arrive very early, before all the boats start to operate.

Anacapri
Take a short busride to Capri’s second town, Anacapri at the top of the Island, to see the more local island life.

Bird Sanctuary, San Barbarossa
Start early with a trip to the bird sanctuary of San Barbarossa.

Chairlift
Take a ride up to Mount Solaro from Piazza Victoria, Anacapri.

Arco Naturale
This natural arch formation can be reached from Capri town. Starting from Piazza Umberto I, head on to Matermania.

POSITANO

POSITANO is a small town on the Amalfi Coast (Costiera Amalfitana), in Campania, Italy. The main part of the city sits in an enclave in the hills leading down to the coast. Positano was a relatively poor fishing village during the first half of the 20th century. It began to attract large numbers of tourists in the 1950s, especially after John Steinbeck published his essay about Positano in Harper’s Bazaar in May, 1953: “Positano bites deep”, Steinbeck wrote. “It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone”.

Positano has lovely shops, art galleries, and restaurants as well. The Church of Santa Maria Assunta boasts a beautiful majolica-mosaic dome. In its interior above the altar is a 13th century Byzantine panel depicting the Virgin & Child and according to folklore, its arrival gave Positano its name: a Saracen ship was passing (having stolen the panel from Byzantium) when they hit a violent storm. They heard a voice saying “posa, posa” (lay me down) which they duly did on the nearest land and the storm abated. A church was built in honor of the Virgin on that spot, which of course was on the beach of what is now Positano.

The Marina and adjoining Spiaggia Grande (beach) is where most people congregate either to catch boats, eat, sunbathe or just people watch. The Marina area is lined with restaurants but you can go to the jetty and you will find (complimentary) restaurant boats wanting to whisk you away to another beach and of course for lunch. To get to Marena’s favorite beach and lunching spot in Positano, find the small coastal path that takes you along Via Positanesi d’American. Rent a beach chair and lunch at the restaurant overlooking the beach for a bit more tranquility.
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You may also request to split your accommodation time to spend half your vacation in Ravello and the other half in Positano rather than taking a day trip to Positano.

(While I often get requests for Sorrento, it is not recommended as it does not offer a real ‘feel’ of Italy and it cost less for a reason – if your going to go all the way to the Amalfi coast, you might as well do it right!)

You will be provided with transportation to and from the Naples airport.

When to go: May, June, July, or September is best.

PRICING for the vacation is subject to your dates of travel. Let us know when you’d like to go and we’ll get you the best price available. Please inquire – there is no obligation to book with us.

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