Villa Rufolo

The gate to Villa Rufolo is in Piazza Vescovado and is conspicuous because it is connected to a quadrangular Moorish tower flanked by cypress trees. On the right of the avenue is the famous Moorish cloister, and at the top of some steps on the left there is a splendid garden, on the left of which again is the Torre Maggiore (Greater Tower), also known a Klingsor’s Castle, which is about thirty meters high.

Villa Rufolo is very ancient, it was built approximately in 1280 by the homonymous family, one of the richest and most important families in Ravello, which was, at the height of a commercial fortune. Boccaccio mentioned this family in his writings on the 2^nd day of the Decamerone, and the adventures of Landolfo Rufolo during his stay in the Naples area.

Even though it has been re-arranged, the building still completely expresses an interesting Arabian – Norman style. Through a luxuriant garden, we arrive at roof-gardens hanging over the sea. It was in this Storybook atmosphere that Richard Wagner, which visited Ravello in May 1880, had the inspiration for the scenography for the second act of the Parsifal. Here every year Wagner’s concerts are celebrated as a memento of Richard Wagner’s stay.

Apart from the musical quality, that is exceptional, the audience is enchanted to see the orchestra that plays as if it were suspended half-way up on a uniformly blue setting, represented by sky and sea. 

The villa, during the course of history passed through many hands until 1851 when it was bought by Sir Nervile Reid, a botanist and expert on Scottish art, who restored the villa to its antique splendour, adding rare plants to its gardens overhanging the sea.

Opening hours:  9.00am – 7.00pm