Villa Rufolo
Medieval villa in Ravello in Arab-Norman style, with terraced gardens overlooking the coast and the Torre-Museo.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Villa Rufolo was built in the first half of the 13th century by Nicola Rufolo, a member of a family that for more than two centuries had a leading economic and political role in medieval Ravello. The palace combines Arab, Byzantine and local forms in an Arab-Norman style. In 1283 Lorenzo Rufolo was executed and the family's property was confiscated; his story is considered a source of inspiration for a tale by Boccaccio.
Passed by inheritance to the Confalone and Muscettola families and then to the D'Afflitto di Scala family, the villa had fallen into ruin by the mid-19th century. In 1851 the Scot Francis Nevile Reid bought it; he restored it with the architect Michele Ruggero and created the terraced gardens with many exotic species. According to tradition, Richard Wagner saw in these gardens the “magic garden of Klingsor”.
In 1974 the EPT of Salerno bought the private part that still existed, and in 2007 management passed to the Fondazione Ravello. The complex includes the Moorish cloister, the baths, the chapel and an entrance tower. The Torre-Museo (Tower Museum), opened on 1 April 2017, displays finds, architectural fragments and objects linked to Reid, with multimedia installations.
Highlights
- Moorish cloister and terraced gardens overlooking the coast
- Torre-Museo with a steel and glass staircase of 100 steps
- Panoramic terrace on the highest point of Ravello's historic centre
- Archaeological fragments and objects from the Reid collection
Permanent exhibition
- Torre-Museo – Route through the main tower with objects from the Reid collection, archaeological and architectural fragments from the Roman age to the 15th century, multimedia installations and a panoramic terrace.
- Operated by
- Fondazione Ravello
- Visitors per year
- approx. 301,306
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €6people over 65 and children aged 5 to 12 |
| Children & teens | €6Rate for children aged 5 to 12; for safety reasons access to the Torre-Museo is allowed from age 5. |
| Seniors | €6Over 65 |
| Groups (15+ people) | €7 per personFor groups of at least 15 people |
Tickets are bought only on site, not online; no booking is required for entry.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Sita bus from Amalfi (about 7 km), from Salerno and from Naples.
From Naples Capodichino airport or from Salerno station, Ravello can be reached by taxi or Sita bus (information: +39 089 405145).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours are included in the entrance ticket (Saturday 3 May 2026, 2 June 2026 and the first Saturday of each month until March 2027), at 10:00 in Italian, 11:00 in English and 12:00 in Italian; registration on site from 30 minutes before, maximum 30 people per group. A smartphone app with an interactive map is available for the visit. |
