Breakfast was so good yesterday we decide to return to Bar Della Valle. After we will catch the bus to Ravello. This time we are seated at a nice table outside. We watch the kids going to the school that is just across the street. Some older kids stop and have a quick breakfast at the table next to us. This time I spot a sugar donut in the case. I can't believe it! I get the sugar donut, orange juice, cappucchino. Richard decides on a breakfast sandwich of ham, mozzarella cheese, tomato. He also gets a cappuccino. Very happy with our choices. Cost 21€/$22.61.
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SITA bus. Amalfi to Ravello. We stop at the tobacco store right on the waterfront near where we will find the SITA buses. We buy our tickets. Cheap at 1.5€ pp each way. Luckily they all have their destinations on them. We have to wait a bit for the Ravello bus. When we first arrived at 10:30 am there was handful of people waiting for the Ravello bus. By the time it arrived those wanting this bus had increased. As soon as the bus pulled up and opened its doors this mob-yes I'm calling them a mob!-of people rushed the bus pushing, shoving. It was horrific. We saw a mom with an infant in her arms being shoved aside. A mom trying to get on the bus to join her children who were already on didn't make it so the driver had to get her children off the bus and back to her. The smallest (maybe 4 or 5 years old) was crying. These people acted like animals. I have never seen anything like this happen. So we didn't get on the first bus. Within maybe 15 minutes or so another bus arrives and the same chaos happens again. We don't make it on to this bus. By now I'm getting really upset/angry/pissed. I tell my husband we're just going to have to be more aggressive to get on the next bus. It arrives and we manage to push ourselves into the bus. I'm literally shaking when I sit down. The day has been ruined before we even get to Ravello. I sure hope this town will be worth all we went through to get there. There is some nice scenery and the road is something else! Narrow. At one point we were inches from a wall of stone! People get on and off the bus as it goes toward Ravello. (We didn't arrive in Ravello until 12:05 pm so it took 95 minutes from time we arrived at Amalfi SITA stop to here finally in Ravello!)
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| Pass these donkeys on the walk down to the waterfront |
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By the time the bus arrives this crowd has increased to maybe 4-5 times amount of people!
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Ravello. Set above the sea on the Amalfi coast. Founded in the 5th century as a shelter place against the barbaric invasions which marked the end of the Western Roman Empire. It's also been a producer of wool and an important trading power in the Mediterranean. There's still a number of palazzi of the mercantile nobility-the Rufolo, d'Aflitto, Confalone, and Della Marra. In 1137 it was destroyed by the Republic of Pisa. After this demographic and economic decline set in and much of its population moved to Naples. In 1944 during WWII the king of Italy lived in Ravello at the Palazzo Priscopio. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Basically a pedestrian only town.
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| We've arrived in Ravello |
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| Pretty view of the coast |
Villa Rufolo. Built by Nicola Rufolo in 1270. Famous attraction for tourists. There are 16 well marked sights to see here. Overlooks the front of the cathedral square. Passed by inheritance to other owners. Middle of the 19th century sold to Scotsman Francis Neville Reid who took care of a general restoration resulting in what you see today. Entrance is through an opening in an arched entrance tower. Dominated by the Torre Maggiore. Some rooms-small museum. German composer Richard Wagner visited in 1880 and imagined the setting as the garden of Klingsor in the second act of Parsifal. Every year the lower garden in the villa hosts a Wagnerian concert. We can see the remains of the concert that haven't been completely cleared away yet. Cost of admission for us 12€/$12.92. We got a very nice detailed booklet about the villa. I climbed the tower but Richard didn't as his knee was bothering him. I was disappointed as there are high glass partitions which interfere with being able to get really good, clear photos of the amazing views from the top of this tower. I also had hoped to see more blooms. Nice greenery but I would have liked to see more flowers. Perhaps it's better during the summer months.
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| Booklet we got |
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| There are numbers to help guide your visit |
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| Glass partition |
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| Remains from Wagnerian concert recently held here |
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| Leaving |
Duomo di Ravello. Spiritual and social center of Ravello. Built in the 11th century with support from the Rufolo family. Combination of Baroque and Romanesque styles. Dedicated to St. Pantaleone. Extensive modifications and restorations over the years. The bell tower-Moorish and Byzantine influence. Bronze door. Central nave contains the "Pulpit of the Gospels" created in 1272 by Nicolo di Bartolomeo. Pulpit is supported by 6 spiraled columns sitting atop marble lions. Across from the pulpit is the Ambo of the Epistles that has 2 mosaics of Jonah and the Whale. Chapel of St. Pantaleone the Healer 3rd century physician who was beheaded after he converted to Christianity. Museum. Not too much to see. Marble bust of what is believed to be Sigilgaida Rufolo wife of Nicola Rufolo the 13th century merchant who commissioned the cathedral's pulpit. Others say it represents the Madonna or Joanna the Queen of Naples. Cost 3€ per person which includes admission to the museum.
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| Admission ticket |
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| Highlight-Bronze doors |
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| Pulpit of the Gospels |
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| Ambo of the Epistles that has 2 mosaics of Jonah and the Whale |
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| Chapel of St. Pantaleone |
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| Believed to be bust of Sigilgaida Rufolo |
Drinks. We've decided that's enough sightseeing in Ravello for us both. Richard is ready to return to Amalfi. There's a place right by the church where we can sit at a table under a huge canopy that provides shade. Bar Klingsor. Menu offers lots of options. Sandwiches, pasta, desserts drinks... We both order lemon soda. Cost 8€. Very refreshing. We walk around this area just seeing what there is. Views of terraces. A shop where I buy a postcard.
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| Busy place |
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| Terraces |
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| Postcard |
SITA bus. Ravello to Amalfi. It is 2:45 pm. It's a short walk back to the stop where we can get the bus back to Amalfi. Not too many people so when the bus arrives we are able to get on it without the trauma of our earlier experience. Nice views on the ride back. We arrive back at 3:05 pm. Small group of those here to go to Ravello. Maybe going later in the day would have been better??
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| Smaller SITA bus |
Shopping. I only make one stop. Nino and Friends. I buy the box of caramel truffles. Cost 16€/$17.23. I'd buy more and larger boxes but my luggage space is limited and these chocolates are not cheap. I stop and get 350€ using my debit card as I did in Florence.
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| Store where I bought our bus tickets |
Pool time. We just enjoyed the pool and relaxed on the loungers. Think we spent around 90 minutes soaking up the sun and chilling out from that morning bus experience going to Ravello. We enjoyed Ravello but agreed it wasn't a "must see".
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La Galea. Dinner. No reservation but we're able to get a table right away. We noticed this place earlier today as we walked back to our hotel after our time in Ravello. Menu has something for everyone. Drinks-lemon spritz for me and beer for Richard. He liked the beer so much he got another! I spot arancini on the menu and we haven't tried this yet so we order one to share. Arancini di Riso-rice ball with green peas, mozzarella and parmesan cheese, tomato, eggs, salami, and minced meat. OMG!! It was great and I wished we had ordered 2! Richard gets a calzone called Napoletano-ricotta/mozzarella/parmesan cheeses, salami, eggs. It was huge and he said it was good. I got the ravioli stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach in a tomato sauce. It was steaming hot and even with the last bite it was still hot. I love my food hot. It was delicious and the pasta was just right-not over cooked. Service was great as it has been all the time we've been in Italy so far. Cost 56.50€/$60.83.
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| Pretty dishes |
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| Drinks |
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| Arancini |
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| Arancini |
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| Ravioli |
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Napoletano calzone
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| Happy with his second beer! |
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| Bancomat to get euros |
We have been so upset from that bus experience Amalfi to Ravello that I think I may just scrap plans to go to Positano and Priano by bus tomorrow. Maybe we'll just have another relax day.
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