Belmond Hotel Caruso vs Palazzo Avino
Belmond Hotel Caruso, a former 11th-century palazzo, is best known for its infinity pool cut directly into the cliff edge, seemingly merging with the sea far below. Palazzo Avino, the town's pink 12th-century palace, offers a similarly storied setting with its own beach club reachable by hotel shuttle down to sea level.
The gardens — Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo
Villa Cimbrone's Terrace of Infinity is one of the coast's most famous viewpoints — a balustraded ledge lined with classical busts, looking straight down the coastline. Villa Rufolo, in the town centre, hosts the outdoor concerts of the summer Ravello Festival against its own garden backdrop.
“Ravello trades sea-level access for something Positano can't offer — silence, gardens, and a view down the entire coastline.”
Getting to Ravello
Ravello is reached by a winding road up from Amalfi, about 20 minutes by car or local bus — there's no direct sea access, so plan around the drive up rather than a boat. Most visitors fly into Naples (NAP) and continue by private transfer to Amalfi before the final climb.
