Villa Cimbrone, Ravello, Italy - SpottingHistory.com

Sitting high atop a promontory that offers stunning views of the Mediterranean and the dramatic coastline below, the Villa Cimbrone is the crown laurel of Ravello.

Villa Cimbrone stands on a rocky outcrop known as 'Cimbronium', and it is from this landscape feature that the villa takes its name. The earliest references to the villa date back to the eleventh century AD, when the villa belonged to the Accongiogioco, a noble family. It later passed to the ownership of a wealthy and influential family, the Fusco, who are also recorded in 1291 as owning the local church of S. Angelo de Cimbrone.

At a later stage in its history the villa became part of the nearby monastery of Santa Chiara, and during this period of the villa's history the papal arms of Cardinal Della Rovere were placed on the old entrance gate. From the seventeenth century the villa's history is uncertain, but by the second half of the nineteenth century the villa had passed to the Amici family of Atrani.

The villa and the gardens were extensively renovated by a British nobleman, Lord Grimthorpe, in the early 20th century. With its expansive gardens and dramatic views, the villa is a popular place for weddings, honeymoons, and receptions. The villa is a private five-star hotel, but the gardens are open to the public and it ranks, perhaps, as the most memorable sight on the Amalfi Coast.

The villa’s belvedere, Terrazza dell’Infinito (Terrace of Infinity), is lined by a series of marble busts that on clear days sparkle against the bluesky above and the azure waters of the Mediterranean below.

References:

Palaces, manors and town halls in Italy

User Reviews

Donna Kelly (2 months ago)
Worth a visit and the entry fee (€10) for the views alone. Off the beaten track a bit so wasn't busy at all. Drinks are pricey inside (€5 for a can of soda). Amazing views of the area. Very beautiful, well kept gardens.

Monika Wisniewska (2 months ago)
The most beautiful place with views to die for and Michelin star restaurant with service that makes you feel like the Queen. I can't wait to go back there. Also very romantic I must say with weddings happening almost every day. Gorgeous, stunning and highly recommended. If you can afford to spend a couple of nights there...do it. Experience of a lifetime

Mike Clifford (3 months ago)
This has been a very difficult review to write. This hotel is beautiful, an ancient Roman villa set in stunning gardens which over look the Amalfi coast. So why the four stars I hear you ask, simply the food in the restaurant, the food is bland and tasteless and frankly a real disappointment. The first night we booked the Michelin Star restaurant and my recommendation to the Michelin assessors is to revisit this decision. The next night re tried the bar and had a risotto, which was tiny and tasteless, the main was steak and there was more gristle than meat, in the end I refused to pay for it. The last night we eat outside of the hotel. This is a massive disappointment for my wife and I as this hotel is one of the best I have stay in, the rooms were lovely, bed comfortable, view lovely. The other point to make is the staff are professional, but it feels like they are doing you a favour, it is not as welcoming as you would expect for an establishment of this type. It was really odd and hard to put your finger on the problem. They just don’t care about their guests in my view. Would I stay there again, yes, but I would eat elsewhere.

Andrew Harris (6 months ago)
All I can say is wow the place was amazing. Service blew us away. Staff was seemingly always one step ahead of us. Everyone somehow knew who we were everywhere we went on the property. Bar staff and waiters all remembered what we had ordered on previous days. Very thoughtful and detailed, well beyond what would be expected. Breakfast is very good. Wide selection of pastries, eggs, fruit, smoked fish, sausage, etc. The gardens are world-class, and the entire property is beautiful and very quiet. Even the pool was a serene escape from the busy Amalfi coast.

Mary Beth Brown (6 months ago)
Stayed as a guest of the hotel for three days and I would recommend anywhere BUT this hotel. It’s a two star hotel for a five star price. We booked a family room and they put us in a closet with twin beds. Staff are inexperienced and spoke very poor English. Rooms offer only the very basic necessities and two towels a day. When we called down for an additional towel because the shower was leaking into the bathroom and bedroom, they told us we would receive more towels when the room was cleaned that afternoon!! The hotel is 15 minutes and 400-500 step CLIMB from the city center so as far as culinary choices, you’re stuck with the restaurants on site which are average and extremely overpriced- just like the hotel. When we ordered dessert after our meal, our waiter rolled his eyes, as if finished our meal was an inconvenience to him. It was an awful experience and the grounds do not justify the price in hotel. Villa Cimbrone is a nice stop for an hour if you’re in the town of ravello but I could never recommend to anyone to stay at the hotel or eat at the restaurants on site. Waste of time and money.

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