Italy’s Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful places in the world, if not the most beautiful, and a place I think everyone should visit at least once. No matter how many photos you see, they will never do it justice — it’s truly a place you have to see through your own eyes. It is pure magic.
Winding roads curve around rocky cliffs jutting out into the sea, entire towns clinging precariously to their sides. The sea sparkles below in the sunshine, and through the hazy light ahead, it appears the curves and bends in the road stretch on into infinity. This is the Amalfi Coast, a seemingly endless stretch of coast boasting some of the most beautiful beaches and towns in the world.
This stretch of coastline is so revered for its beauty that it has even been given the honor of joining the world’s elite as a UNESCO world heritage site. I cannot stress this enough – if you ever have the chance to drive the Amalfi Coast, do it. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!
There are a multitude of beautiful places to stop along the Amalfi Coast, but the real jewel of this region is the picture-perfect village of Positano. Even if you’re not a photographer, you’re going to want your camera for this one!
If I hadn’t seen it for myself, I probably wouldn’t even be convinced a place like this could still exist today. It is one of the most popular places to visit in Italy, yet the Italian charm and untouched natural beauty you’ll find here make Positano feel like anything but just another over-hyped tourist destination. Positano is unbelievably beautiful.
Those colorful houses stacked on top of each other so tightly that the cliff itself is no longer visible, the gentle waves lapping at the picturesque beaches below – there’s no denying Positano is a special place.
I’m not saying I could live in a place this small, although having scenery such as this as a permanent fixture in my life does make it tempting, but Positano is definitely the sort of place that helps me understand why people continue to return to the same place over and over again.
I feel like John Steinbeck said it best in an article which prompted a surge of tourism to Positano in the 1950’s that hasn’t abated since:
Positano bites deep. It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes becomingly real after you have gone.
But seek out less-heralded towns — from neighboring Praiano, in the west, to the central coast’s twin beach towns of Maiori and Minori, to the hilltop hamlet of Ravello and the eastern fishing village of Cetara — to discover the untrammeled charm and enduring beauty that exist all along the Amalfi Coast.
Ravello Weddings
Perched high above the Amalfi coastline, little Ravello is like a small slice of heaven, a perfect location for romantic destination weddings with its breathtaking vistas. Accessible only after a circuitous ascent by car or bus, the main attraction of this small and ancient town, isolated from much of the hubbub of modern Italy, is the golden opportunity to relax in its intimate and unhurried atmosphere.
The town has always been a favorite spot for artists and writers: here Richard Wagner took inspiration for the plot and stage design of his opera Parsifal. Greta Garbo flew to Ravello for her secret romance with musician Leopold Stokowski.
This small town is an important historic and cultural centre, and the location for the internationally attended Ravello Music Festival, which takes place annually from March to December. Across the main piazza the mystical and romantic Villa Rufolo and Cimbrone with its immaculately kept gardens is a delight to wander around, the perfect place to absorb the calm and peaceful atmosphere.
Ravello is one of the most requested locations for elegant and refined destination weddings on the Amalfi Coast. The small, elegant and refined town of Ravello has definitely the most extensive variety of properties and venues where to organize a successful wedding reception. If you are thinking about a location where you can find a place where to dance and party until late then Ravello is definitely ideal for you. It is highly recommended for intimate and large wedding parties for the wide variety of venues available suitable to any kind of budget.
Villa Cimbrone
The 11th century Villa Cimbrone is definitely a must for your visit to Ravello. You can stroll the gardens and enjoy the spectacular view from the “Terrace of Infinity”. On a clear day, it’s often impossible to see a separation between the all blue sky from the sea. A bridal portrait on the “Terrace of Infinity” is a must for your wedding album.
The view from Terrace of Infinity is, without any doubt, one of the most beautiful sceneries you’ll ever see in your life. Other famous persons shared the same view. Virginia Woolf, John Maynard Keynes, D.H. Lawrence, T.S. Eliot, Winston Churchill, Greta Garbo, Al Gore, these are just some of the names of people who stayed in Villa Cimbrone and feel in love with the Terrace of Infinity. Well, can you blame them?
Since looking downward is not for the faint of heart (the Terrace is 1200 feet, around 365 meters above the sea), you will definitely find solace in the equally astonishing gardensboasting temples, statues and other classic-like architectures, not to mention the many species of flowers and trees that do the lion’s share in giving this incredible place its aura of “timelessness”.
There are just so many photographic opportunities in this amazing Italian villa!
