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Ravello Italy |
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From Amalfi a winding road ascends seven kilometres up the "Dragon's Valley" to the hill town of Ravello. Located on the small escarpment of Monte Lattari, it is set amidst vast semi-tropical gardens and overlooks, from 350 metres, the coast south towards the Gulf of Salerno, and the town of Amalfi directly below. It is no wonder then, that this town, with its head in the clouds and its clear, sunny climate, has appealed for centuries to writers, artists, musicians, travellers... and dreamers! Boccaccio, D. H. Lawrence and Wagner are among the "greats" who succumbed to the spell of Ravello. Wagner partly composed his opera "Parsifal" here, and today author Gore Vidal lives and derives inspiration from this charming town. |
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"Ah moon of my delight that knows no wane The moon of heaven is rising once again How oft hereafter rising shall she look Through this same garden after us in vain".
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Hotels in Ravello |
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Amalfi Coast Italy
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Pride of
place on the town piazza is taken by the Duomo, the town cathedral,
dedicated to patron San Pantaleone and founded in 1086 by Orso Papiro, the
first bishop of Ravello. Rebuilt in the 12th and 17th centuries, and
completely restored in 1973, the Duomo retains traces of medieval frescoes
in the transept, an original mullioned window, a marble portal, and a
three-story 13th-century bell tower playfully interwoven with mullioned
windows and arches. The 12th-century bronze door features 54 embossed panels
depicting Christ's life, and saints, prophets, plants, and animals, all
narrating biblical lore. It was crafted by Barisano da Trani, who also
fashioned the doors of the cathedrals of Trani and Monreale. (The door is
currently under restoration, and no one is clear when it will visible again
-- it was due in 2004). The nave's three aisles are divided by ancient
columns, and treasures include sarcophagi from Roman times and paintings by
southern Renaissance artist Andrea da Salerno. Most impressive are the two
medieval ambos, or pulpits: The earlier one, used for reading the Epistles,
is inset with a mosaic scene of Jonah and the Whale, symbolizing death and
redemption. The more famous one, used for reading the Gospels, was
commissioned by Nicola Rufolo in 1272 and created by Niccolò di Bartolomeo
da Foggia. It seems almost Tuscan in style, with exquisite Cosmatesque
mosaic work and bas-reliefs and six twisting columns sitting on lion
pedestals. An eagle grandly tops the colonnette fronting the inlaid marble
lectern.
A
chapel left of the apse is dedicated to San Pantaleone, a physician, who was
beheaded in the 3rd century in Nicomedia. Every July 27 devout believers
gather in hope of witnessing a miracle (similar to that of San Gennaro in
Naples), in which the saint's blood, collected in a vial and set out on an
inlaid marble altar, appears to liquefy and become clearer. Use one of the
side doors to go behind the altar in the small chapel to get a closer look
at the pint of the saint's blood. In the crypt is the Museo del Duomo, which
displays treasures from around the 13th century, during the reign of
Frederick II of Sicily, in an elegant setting. You'll find gold and silver
work, sculpture, and a classic Campanian marble bust of a half-smiling woman
from the Rufolo dynasty, whose name was Sigilgaita, adorning the cathedral's
pulpit. 
