The small village of Ravello perched high above the Amalfi coast has inherited a noble and rich tradition, nowhere better exemplified than in the historical Villa Cimbrone with its astounding public gardens.

The origins of Ravello go back to the fourth and fifth centuries A.D. almost coinciding with the dissolution of the Western Roman Empire.  To avoid the devastating attack of the barbarians and after various attempts at colonisation in southern Italy, a great number of Roman noblemen and aristocrats built stable and sheltered settlements on the hills where the towns of La Scala and Ravello are situated today.  The Roman colonies brought vital impetus from their original civilisation – in their customs, art, history, socio-political growth and trade initiatives.  Though the glorious Amalfitan Republic eventually declined, Ravello still maintains an echo of its rich history.  Villa Cimbrone owes its charm not only to the extraordinary beauty of the place, but also to centuries of culture and tradition.

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