Hotels near Ravello and Its Clifftop Gardens

Ravello sits roughly 365 metres above the sea, a quieter and more refined counterpoint to the seaside towns, and it is best known for two historic villas. Villa Rufolo, built in the 13th century, has terraced gardens that frame one of the coast's most photographed views and host the open-air Ravello Festival each summer. A short walk away, Villa Cimbrone is famous for its Terrace of Infinity (Terrazza dell'Infinito), a marble-busted balustrade hanging over a sheer drop to the Gulf of Salerno.

Reaching Ravello means a bus or drive up a switchback road from Amalfi, since no ferry serves it. That climb keeps the crowds a little thinner than in Positano.

Pro Tip: Visit Villa Cimbrone's Terrace of Infinity first thing or near closing - midday tour groups pack the narrow viewpoint, and the light is far better in early morning or the golden hour before sunset.