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

Ebrar Eke (3 months ago)
The most magical and dreamy place ever! Definitely worth a visit. You can spend your whole day in the gardens and enjoy the spectacular views!

David (3 months ago)
Note that most of these reviews here are for the gardens only, not the hotel. We found our stay underwhelming and not living up to the hype our the standard that should come with the nightly rates. THE GOOD: The gardens are fantastic and being in so close proximity is just a pleasure. The breakfast was fantastic and so is the pool area a s small gym which was a nice surprise. The rooms are very clean and comfy, though some may be small but overall alright. THE BAD: The hotel is a 10 minute stair walk away so they offer you to bring your luggage. What they don't tell you, is they'll charge you 30EUR for it. There is no iron available, pressing 4 items will set you back 50EUR; there are no free items. The pool bar/Restaurant will approx. need 30 minutes to being your drinks even if empty. The staff did not care/say anything noticing a birthday, even while checking your passport for checkin. THE UNACCEPTABLE: The safe in the room literally stands around and could be stolen by a kid and therefore is just a funny gadget in the room. The AC remote on the wall appears to be new, but is some cheap plastic which is working on it's on. You could wake up to a full blown, hot AC. Overall, I recommend to visit the gardens (maybe even multiple times) and if you want have dinner, but there is no need to sleep here. If you want a luxury experience in Ravello, we liked Belmond much more.

António Coutinho (4 months ago)
A hotel is great when you don't want to leave! That's what I felt on my departure. A great experience is all about details. Everything is well detailed from the moment one walks in. You are welcomed with bottle of Limoncello and some cookies. Even the toiletries come in a box that is just a delight to see. The staff is very gentle and eager to help. Again, a hotel is good when you experience something that will last in your memory. Villa Cimbrone is one of these hotels!

Anna Pająkowska-Białek (4 months ago)
One of the most beautiful places l have ever seen :D Magnificent trees and beautiful gardens full of colourful flowers invite you to enjoy the rest in the shade and to admire breathtaking views from the Infinity Terrace. Marvellous experience :)

Fabio Mirulla (7 months ago)
One of the best location saw in my career. This incredible villa offers everything you need to make your big dream come true. As a destination wedding photographer in Italy I had the chance to shoot here and it was amazing... A dream place...

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

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Les Invalides is a complex of buildings containing museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France, as well as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans, the building"s original purpose. The buildings house the Musée de l"Armée, the military museum of the Army of France, the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, and the Musée d"Histoire Contemporaine, as well as the burial site for some of France"s war heroes, notably Napoleon Bonaparte.

Louis XIV initiated the project in 1670, as a home and hospital for aged and unwell soldiers: the name is a shortened form of hôpital des invalides. The architect of Les Invalides was Libéral Bruant. The enlarged project was completed in 1676, the river front measured 196 metres and the complex had fifteen courtyards. Jules Hardouin Mansart assisted the aged Bruant, and the chapel was finished in 1679 to Bruant"s designs after the elder architect"s death.

Shortly after the veterans" chapel was completed, Louis XIV commissioned Mansart to construct a separate private royal chapel referred to as the Église du Dôme from its most striking feature. Inspired by St. Peter"s Basilica in Rome, the original for all Baroque domes, it is one of the triumphs of French Baroque architecture. The domed chapel is centrally placed to dominate the court of honour. It was finished in 1708.

Because of its location and significance, the Invalides served as the scene for several key events in French history. On 14 July 1789 it was stormed by Parisian rioters who seized the cannons and muskets stored in its cellars to use against the Bastille later the same day. Napoleon was entombed under the dome of the Invalides with great ceremony in 1840. In December 1894 the degradation of Captain Alfred Dreyfus was held before the main building, while his subsequent rehabilitation ceremony took place in a courtyard of the complex in 1906.

The building retained its primary function of a retirement home and hospital for military veterans until the early twentieth century. In 1872 the musée d"artillerie (Artillery Museum) was located within the building to be joined by the Historical Museum of the Armies in 1896. The two institutions were merged to form the present musée de l"armée in 1905. At the same time the veterans in residence were dispersed to smaller centres outside Paris. The reason was that the adoption of a mainly conscript army, after 1872, meant a substantial reduction in the numbers of veterans having the twenty or more years of military service formerly required to enter the Hôpital des Invalides. The building accordingly became too large for its original purpose. The modern complex does however still include the facilities detailed below for about a hundred elderly or incapacitated former soldiers.

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