I go to Ravello two or three times a week to visit family, meet up with my Italian/ English study partner, or to go to the outdoor market that comes every Tuesday. In fact, as soon as I finish writing this post, I will be heading to the market in Ravello in hopes of finding basilico and prezzemolo plants for the terrace. Over the last few weeks signs of the upcoming Ravello Festival 2009 have been appearing all over the city. This is one of the surest indications in Ravello that summer is just around the corner!
The Ravello Festival is an annual summer music and arts festival that takes place primarily on the beautiful grounds of the Villa Rufolo in Ravello every summer. The festival started in the mid-1950s, and was originally dedicated to the works of the composer Richard Wagner. Why Wagner and Ravello? The connection goes back to 1880 when Wagner made a journey up to Ravello on the back of a donkey. (For those of you who curse the tiny road between the Amalfi Coast Road and Ravello, remember that getting up to Ravello used to be far worse!) The story goes on to say that Wagner was so taken by the beautiful gardens and breathtaking views of the Villa Rufolo that he is said to have exclaimed, “Here is the enchanted garden of Klingsor!” The connection between his opera Parsifal and the gardens at the Villa Rufolo has not been forgotten by the city of Ravello.
While this was the inspiration for the beginning of the Ravello Festival, today it offers a wide variety of music, dance, lectures and art exhibitions. The performances take place throughout the Villa Rufolo gardens, and in locations around Ravello and neighboring Scala. One of the most impressive venues is certainly the stage they build overlooking the magnificent view of the Amalfi Coast. The evening concerts are truly spectacular! But you really must explore the grounds of the Villa Rufolo, where you will find art exhibitions and small stages set up for more intimate performances.
On the Ravello Festival website I found the following breakdown of the different sections of the festival today. Each of the eight sections “is dedicated to a great artist who has stayed in Ravello and been inspired by it.”
ORCHESTRAL & DANCE SECTION, dedicated to Richard Wagner
TRENDS DESIGN SECTION, dedicated to D. H. Lawrence
CHAMBER MUSIC SECTION, dedicated to Edvard Grieg
MUSICAL PROMENADES SECTION, dedicated to E. M. Forster
CINEMUSIC SECTION, dedicated to Greta Garbo
VISUAL ARTS SECTION, dedicated to M. C. Escher
EDUCATION SECTION, dedicated to André Gide
SPECIAL EVENTS SECTION, dedicated to Giovanni Boccaccio
Martha Graham & Limòn Dance Company16 July 2008
Photo Ravello Festival
Every year the Ravello Festival features what they term a Wagnerian Leitmotiv, which serves as the overall theme for the summer. This year’s theme is Il Coraggio, or Courage, which I find a timely and appropriate choice. Last year the theme was Diversity, and it seems the organizers of the festival had a relationship between the two in mind. Here is a description from the Ravello Festival website:
Courage is the mirror image of fear. Fear of the enemy, of diversity, of what is difficult, complex, unknown: courage is needed to defeat the enemy, to accept diversity, to tame what is difficult, unravel what is complex, decipher what is unknown. Like fear, courage is a feeling which is bound up with the time and place in which it manifests itself.
If you plan on visiting the Amalfi Coast this summer, be sure to check out what is happening in Ravello. This year the festival runs from June 26th – September 27th, and you can find the provisional schedule here in PDF form. Come celebrate the arts on the Amalfi Coast!
I need to get to the mercato for some basil and parsley too! Pick me up some, would ya?
I’m actually thinking of hitting Ravello for lunch on Thurs.. not sure. I’ll email you.
Ciao!!
I must go on a Tuesday next time. I love markets.
I am smiling ear to ear. You are the perfect “inspiration.”
Pesto anyone?
Wow, This is one I would love to experience!! These fresh herbs sound wonderful, Thanks for sharing.
Ciao Karen! Well, I ended up with a ridiculous amount of pomodorini plants. Would you like some of those??
Oh!!! Send me an email if you are coming to Ravello! That would be great! 
Ciao Scintilla! Do they have a market in Positano? The one in Ravello isn’t as big as the Amalfi or Maiori markets, but it is nice.
Ciao Lisa! I thought that would make you smile!
Ciao Chuck! I got some prezzemolo and basilico and some cherry tomato plants. I was excited to plant them this afternoon, but as soon as I got home there was a huge thunderstorm! Meno male I was already home!
Love love love Ravello. I have friends there and I adore staying for a while when I visit them.
It’s so good to be back home again. Ciao cara amica
Now that is tempting! I’ve never been to Ravello but have always wanted to visit, esp. for the gardens. What a way to experience them!
This is wonderful your garden has began!! Mine too,I am growing those same herbs! Just started to pull my winter garlic, Fun Times!
Grazie Laura, Take care and enjoy
Ciao Lola! I love love love Ravello, too! It is such a lovely city and is so peaceful. Even with the tourists there it never has the feeling of chaos in the city center. I am so glad that cars can no longer go through the Piazza! That tunnel totally changed Ravello.
Ciao KC! The gardens are really stunning. I am amazed everytime I go to the Villa Cimbrone. You would also love the Duomo of Ravello! I will have to do a post on that one of these days…
Ciao Chuck! I planted my little terrace garden yesterday evening. I am so excited! This is the first time I will grow basilico, prezzemolo and tomatoes. I already have a rosmarino plant that weathered the winter really well. I think it is going to be a tasty summer!
You grow garlic? Is it difficult?