Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Ravello and Klingsor's Garden

After lunch we took the short bus ride up to Ravello, which is a bit further down the coast but much higher up than Positano and Amalfi. Michelin gives Ravello three stars, and there is a Wagnerian interest as well.
In Ravello and the Villa Rufolo, 1270, mentioned by Boccacio, among others...














When Wagner visited Ravello in 1880, he was so taken with 
the architecture and garden at the Villa Rufolo that he based
the stage design of the 2nd act of Parsifal--Klingsor's 
Enchanted Garden--on it























Entry to the Villa




















Interior at the Villa; Wagner had never seen Moorish architecture before--I 
think--and since the evil magician/ arch-villain  Klingsor--who had taken the 
Grail from the Knights of the Grail-- had to be Moorish, Villa Rufolo suited
well



















Ditto















"Mit diesem Zeichen, bann ich deinen Zauber!"
















Well, it is a gorgeous setting, cliff-side, a thousand feet up
from the sea
















More of the gardens and view















Looking south, not as dramatic a view as that north of Amalfi















But the gardens are pretty nice















Someone really likes pansies















Water feature















More interior















13th century outdoor BBQ














With a view















I don't think Ravello merits 3 stars, or even 1,
but I did come away with some decent wine



















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