Ravello

Ravello is a town on the Italian Amalfi Coast in Campania, Province of Salerno with 2452 inhabitants ( as at 31 December 2012).

Geography

The nearby towns are: Atrani, Gragnano (NA ), Humanities (NA ), Maiori, Minori, Scala and Tramonti.

History

Founding legend and development until the 19th century

Around the 5th century AD. examined according to legend rich Roman patrician families refuge from marauding barbarians and founded a small property on the hill between the valleys Dragone and Reginna.

The Normans, who ruled this area in the 10th century, Ravello gave independence. Pope Victor III. Ravello made ​​from 1086 to the bishopric, which the growing population should be met as well as the flourishing maritime trade. In the following centuries a rich bourgeoisie, which had built magnificent palaces, some of which are still preserved today developed. In 1603 Ravello was incorporated into the diocese of La Scala, 1806 integrated in the Archdiocese of Amalfi.

The Rufolo family, one of the richest in Ravello was build in the 12th century the villa on a promontory of the same name, which is famous attraction for thousands of visitors today. Nicola Rufolo, one member of this family, founded in 1272 one of the two pulpits in the Cathedral: one of the masterpieces of Byzantine mosaic Arab- work. Landolfo Rufolo was mentioned by Boccaccio in his Decameron ( Day 2, 4th amendment ). Villa Rufolo was dilapidated purchased and renewed in 1851 by Scotsman Francis Neville Reid. In the gardens of the Villa Richard Wagner was 1880, the inspiration for the stage of the second act ( Klingsor's magic garden ) of his opera Parsifal.

There were many noble families, which has made it so famous, these noble families had the noble title of Ravello: Acconciajoco, Alfano, Appencicario, Aufiero, Bove, Campanile, Cassitto, Castaldo, Citarella, Confalone, Coppola, Cortese, D' Afflitto, De Curtis, Dell'Isola, Della Marra, De Piccolellis, De Vito, Fenice, Foggia, Frezza, Fusco, Giusto, Grisone, Guerritore, Longo, Marinelli, Muscettola, Panicola, Papice, Pironti, Rago, Rogadeo, Rovito, Rufolo, Russo, Rustici, Sasso, Arcucci.

Ravello from the 20th century

The small, around 300 m high above the sea-front city is the destination of many tourists and the seat of annual in the summer months Ravello Festival (1953 called in honor of Richard Wagner to life ). Villa Rufolo is now the seat of the Centro Universitario Europeo per i Beni Culturali (European University Center for the Cultural Heritage), which develops, among other projects for cultural and environmental protection, as well as new approaches to cultural tourism.

The U.S. writer Gore Vidal had from the 1970s to 2004, a residence in Ravello.

Attractions

• Cathedral of S. Pantaleon and ascension of Mary
• Villa Rufolo with park (12th cent.) Is an attraction for many visitors
• Villa Cimbrone
• The churches of Santa Maria a Gradillo, San Giovanni del Toro, San Francesco, Santa Chiara, San Pietro Chiesa Annunziata, Santa Maria della Grazie
• Oscar Niemeyer Auditorium, inaugurated by the Fondazione Ravello on 29 January 2010