Planning a Trip

Getting There

The bus is the best option, with SITA (tel. 081-5522176; www.sitabus.it) offering frequent service from Amalfi.

Taxi service from Naples's Capodichino Airport costs a fixed 135€. Curreri Viaggi (tel. 081-8015420; www.curreriviaggi.it) offers a shuttle from the airport for 150€ for one to three passengers and 12€ for each additional passenger.

By train (tel. 892021 in Italy; www.trenitalia.it), the closest station is Vietri sul Mare, on the local line between Naples (where you'll change trains if you are coming from the north) and Salerno (if you are coming from the south). Your best bet is to alight in Salerno and take a SITA bus or a taxi directly to Ravello.

In summer, another option is taking a ferry. The nearest harbors are Salerno and Amalfi; transfer to Ravello from there.

By car, take autostrada A3 to NAPOLI-SALERNO to the exit VIETRI SUL MARE; then follow signs for VIETRI, AMALFI to the SS 163. Follow signs for RAVELLO up the narrow curvy road. Note: Because of summer traffic, car access to SS 163 is occasionally limited; contact the tourist office before setting out.

Getting Around

The town is largely pedestrian, with steep, narrow lanes and flights of stairs. All cars must stop at the large public parking lot not far from the Duomo. Taxis are available at stands on Piazza Duomo, Gradillo, San Giovanni del Toro, and Castiglione, or by calling tel. 089-857917.

Visitor Information

The AAST tourist office, Via Roma 18, 84010 Ravello (tel. 089-857096; www.ravellotime.it), is open October to April, Monday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm and May to September Monday to Saturday 9am to 8pm.

Fast Facts

You'll find a pharmacy (tel. 089-857189) in Via Boccaccio, off Piazza Duomo. The closest hospital is in Salerno. For an ambulance, dial tel. 118. Call the police at tel. 113 or 112. The post office, Via Boccaccio 15, off Piazza Vescovado (tel. 089-8586611), is open Monday to Saturday 8am to 2pm. You'll find Banca Monte Paschi di Siena at Piazza Duomo 6 (tel. 089-857120), and Banca della Campania at Via Roma 15 (tel. 089-857872) -- both with ATMs.

Special Events

The internationally famous Festival di Ravello (tel. 089-858422 or 334-6264222; www.ravellofestival.com) focuses on classical music, but it is also an occasion for other events, including jazz, dance, and visual arts. It is very popular (reserve well in advance) not only for the big names it attracts, but also for the magnificent settings. Performances are held at Piazza Duomo, Villa Rufolo, and Villa Cimbrone, among other venues. The festival is organized into several series, including the Festival Musicale Wagneriano -- classical music concerts held in July in the garden of Villa Rufolo -- and the unique Concerti dell'Aurora, a group of concerts held at dawn (usually starting at 4am), to welcome the day in music. The festival runs July through September; prices depend on the event, and though some events have free admission, tickets for others can cost anywhere between 15€ and 130€.

Music continues before and after the festival with concerts and events scheduled March through October. You can find information on these other events by contacting Fondazione Ravello (tel. 089-858360; www.fondazioneravello.it), or the Ravello Concert Society (tel. 089-858149; www.ravelloarts.org).