Things to Do
Terrazza dell'Infinito & Villa Cimbrone Gardens
Sitting high atop a promontory that offers stunning views of the Mediterranean and the dramatic coastline below, the Villa Cimbrone is the crown laurel of Ravello. With its expansive gardens and dramatic views, the villa is a popular place for weddings, honeymoons, and receptions. The villa is a private 5-star hotel (Hotel Villa Cimbrone), but the gardens are open to the public and it ranks, perhaps, as the most memorable sight on the Amalfi Coast. The Villa Cimbrone Gardens are about a 5 minute walk from Hotel Villa Maria. A MUST see!
Villa Rufolo
The Villa Rufolo, which overlooks the Piazza Vescovado, is the historical and cultural center of Ravello. Built by a wealthy merchant family in the 13th century, the villa has a rich and storied past. Boccaccio, one of the earliest authors of the Italian renaissance, wrote a story about the villa and its owner in his Decameron, which was published in 1353. In its prime, it was one of the largest and most expensive villas on the Amalfi Coast, and legends grew about hidden treasure on its premises. Villa Rufolo is close to Ravello's town square and is about a 5-10 minute walk from Hotel Villa Maria. Highly recommend!
Atrani Walk
The Ravello-Atrani-Amalfi walk is a trek of about 3.4 km that allows you to walk to Amalfi in 2 hours of walking. The path is almost totally downhill and develops along an ancient stone staircase, with short stretches of dirt road. Therefore, comfortable shoes and a good workout are necessary. The walk passes through the towns of Torello and Atrani, passing through the panoramic lemon terraces of the Amalfi Coast. During our trip to Italy in April 2022, we hiked from Ravello to Atrani and then to Amalfi. The walk is downhill and can be done in about 2 hours. Once in Amalfi, you can catch a taxi back to Ravello (about a 45 minute drive). Highly recommend!
Ravello - Minori Hike
While walking this scenic route between Ravello and Minori you can view, from vantage points atop cliffs, in gardens or roadways, sweeping vistas along the seacoast. The hike is relatively easy, and there’s no map necessary, but first you’ll need a starting point. From Piazza Duomo, the plaza with the giant cathedral, follow Via Dei Rufolo under the archway and take an immediate left down the narrow staircase after exiting the archway. From there, simply follow all markers to Minori and avoid all upward staircases. The scenery is simply remarkable. During our trip to Italy in April 2022, we hiked from Ravello down to Amalfi and the views were incredible! The hike was all downhill and took approx. 2 hours. You can then catch a taxi back to Ravello after getting ice cream in the Amalfi Town Square! 100% worth it!
Giardini Principessa di Piemonte
Belvedere Principessa di Piemonte in Ravello is a small park decorated with magnificently manicured flower beds, an oasis where you can sit and enjoy the glistening views stretching along the spellbinding Amalfi Coast. When entering the gardens of Belvedere Principessa di Piemonte on the left you will see this small sign with images from the 1953 film ‘Beat the Devil’ staring a cast that included Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Jones, Gina Lollobrigida, Robert Morley, Peter Lorre and Bernard Lee. Like most of the heavenly towns along Italy’s Amalfi Coast parts of the movie were filmed in the gardens. Belvedere Principessa di Piemonte has the same famous views as its luxury five star hotels up the road, Via San Giovanni del Toro is the highest point in Ravello. The gardens overlook the little towns Minori and Maiori and the coast towards Salerno.
Blue Grotto
The Blue Grotto is a sea cave located on the coast of the island of Capri, in southern Italy, famous for its otherworldly blue glowing waters. The grotto's fluorescent glow comes from a large underwater cave opening beneath the entrance used by visiting boats that illuminates the grotto's water from below, like neon lights in a pool. Known since the days of the ancient Romans, the Blue Grotto’s intense and brilliant blue waters have been fascinating visitors ever since.
Path of Gods
The Path of the Gods (or Il Sentiero degli Dei in Italian) gets its name from its beauty and not the difficulty of the trail. Hiking the Path of the Gods is one of the best things to do while visiting Italy’s stunning Amalfi Coast because you get to soak up absolutely breathtaking views! The trail starts in the mountains, so you get sweeping views of the amazingly blue Mediterranean and all of the seaside towns that dot the coast. The hiking trail takes about two to four hours to complete, depending on how often you take a break to soak in the incredible views.
Furore Beach
Furoir di Four Beach is one of the most iconic beaches on the coastline. Used by Red Bull as an extreme diving site, this beach is nothing short of spectacular. To experience this stunning beach, you can rent a boat from any town like Positano or Amalfi and head that way. You can also drive there and walk around the town of Furore above the beach.
Atrani
Atrani is a city and commune. The Municipality of Atrani has a surface area of 0.12 km, making it the smallest in the whole of Italy. The biggest difference between Amalfi and Atrani is authenticity. If you visit Atrani, you will notice that it represents a true insight into the local Italian lifestyle. This town is made up of many small narrow residential streets. It is only a 10-minute walk from Amalfi town, and therefore, easy to access. With laundry hanging from open windows swaying in the breeze and locals gathering for their morning coffee in the main square, it is a beautiful town to experience a local way of life.
Il Tridente Cocktail Bar and Restaurant
Ill Trident in Positano is an incredible place to catch a sunset and have incredible food. The area is filled with white wire arches and bright pink climbing flowers. They offer great food but the highlight is their beautiful freshly made Peach Bellinis. For dinner, they recommend the Kamut spaghetti with black olives, capers, and yellow cherry tomatoes. Enjoy your cocktail sitting on the sunlit terrace and take in the incredible views.
Duomo di Amalfi
If you are heading to Amalfi, you simply cannot miss this architectural masterpiece. The cathedral sits with pride in the center of Amalfi and it is just beautiful.
Amalfi Drive
The Amalfi coast road offers some of the best views of the Amalfi Coast. However, it certainly isn’t for the faint-hearted! With narrow lanes, wild drivers, and steep cliffs, there are definitely some hair-raising moments. Hire an old Vespa or you can pay more for a classic car and drive the coastline. Check out Positano Vintage Dream for hire options. The best scenic viewpoint is at Conca dei Marini just after the Belvedere hotel. You will get to see the crystal clear water of the Saraceno Hotel which was once a fortress. The view also allows you to see the former villa of Sofia Loren with the perfect Amalfi backdrop.
Amalfi
Amalfi's vertiginous streets, belvederes, cascading flowers, and ever-changing views of the blue sea below make Amalfi one of Italy's most delightful places to visit. Almost as trendy as Positano's, Amalfi's Marina Grande has its share of glam, but the 200 meters of sand has free area at each end for those who don't want to fork out for a space with the smart set. Like Positano's this Marina Grande will be crowded. Amalfi's cathedral, Duomo di Sant'Andrea, rises majestically at the top of a long staircase (nearly everything in Amalfi is reached by stairs), with a geometric patterned façade, striped columns, and a dome resplendent in Majolica tiles. Climb the stairs to see the magnificent bronze doors; the ornate crypt with its frescoes; and the lovely Chiostro del Paradiso, a cloister with a serene garden.
Take a Cooking Class at Hotel Villa Maria!
The great thing about Hotel Villa Maria is that they offer a cooking class and a wine tasting! Check out the below link for more detail!
Saraceno d'Oro
A great spot to eat in Positano! Great pizza, drinks, and views!
Ristorante Da Costantino
Not to be dramatic, but we can confidently say that Da Costantino is hands down the best food we have ever had! From the homemade gnocchi to the eggplant parmesan to the local fish, we cannot recommend this place enough. Do yourself a favor and make a reservation!!