RAVELLO
The devastation of
the barbaric invasions, that fell on Italy during
the V century AD as a result of the decline
of the Western Roman Empire, in this zone had at least the
merit to provoke the foundation of Ravello
by part of the fugitive citizens coming from the coasts and
the capital Rome.
Here arrived several noble families of Romans who with the
construction of palaces and defensives walls formed the first
nucleus of Ravello.
The city reached its maximum splendor between the X and the
XII century becoming episcopal center in 1083
and following the commercial development of the neighbor Amalfi.
Plundered by the Pisans in 1135
Ravello then knew a period of decline that lasted until the
XVII century when it came riscoperta and included like important
goal between the travellers of the age.
Here in the second half of the XIX century arrived also Richard
Wagner, taking inspiration in order to compose some
its works and making to be born a strong tie of Ravello with
the music renewed also with the visits in the last centuries
of Giuseppe Verdi and Arturo Toscanini
and with the presence of a Ravello Festival:
show of classic music, visual and cinematographic art that
is kept every year at Villa Rufolo.
In Ravello is enough the place and the splendid panorama
on the Tyrrhenian sea in order to enjoy remarkable
emotions.
It is moreover possible to visit the Franciscan Complex
with annexed an important library, founded by the same saint
in visit to Ravello and Amalfi
in the XIII century and the churches of Santa Maria a
Gradillo (XI sec.), of San Giovanni del Toro (XI
cent.) and the Annunziata one.
Villa Rufolo, once extended until the sea,
also deserves a visit. Today is the seat of the European University
Center for the Cultural Heritage and the stage for important
concerts dedicated to Wagner.
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