Back to the Villa Rufolo

Well, after yesterday's excitement, it's back to earth with a bump.  The Boss is back tomorrow, which is a bonus, and we haven't managed to destroy his business in his absence, which I'm sure will come as a relief to him.  And in a couple of days, I'll be in the Lakes.  Please, please, please let the weather be reasonable!  [NB.  I did not say 'good'.  That would be too much to hope for!]

More pretty pictures now, of the Villa Rufolo in Ravello.  My main focus today is the Torro Maggiore (the 'Larger Tower' - it sounds much better in Italian, doesn't it??) which towers over the rest of the site:-

 

It's an intriguing structure, but unfortunately we couldn't get inside. 

This is the external wall of the cloister, with another piece of Moorish-style carving:-

 

The full beauty and complexity of the carved arch is only evident in close-up:-

 

And you know what?  I hadn't noticed the little carved face at the left hand side until I posted this photo!

One last trip to the Villa Rufolo tomorrow - I've got to go now, as it's the Writers' Group tonight.  And a useless fact to round the evening off: Richard Wagner was very fond of the place, which, according to my little book (Ravello: A Terrace Overlooking The Sea, by Mario Vassalluzzo, Matonti Editore, 2010)  was supposed to have inspired the garden and enchanted Castle of Kilngsor from Act 2 of Parsifal. 

I'm more of a 'Ring of the Nibelungs' fan myself, but hey, I won't hold that against it.  I believe they hold a Wagner concert (or is it a festival???) here every year.... 


 

Back to the Villa Rufolo

Well, after yesterday's excitement, it's back to earth with a bump.  The Boss is back tomorrow, which is a bonus, and we haven't managed to destroy his business in his absence, which I'm sure will come as a relief to him.  And in a couple of days, I'll be in the Lakes.  Please, please, please let the weather be reasonable!  [NB.  I did not say 'good'.  That would be too much to hope for!]

More pretty pictures now, of the Villa Rufolo in Ravello.  My main focus today is the Torro Maggiore (the 'Larger Tower' - it sounds much better in Italian, doesn't it??) which towers over the rest of the site:-

 

It's an intriguing structure, but unfortunately we couldn't get inside. 

This is the external wall of the cloister, with another piece of Moorish-style carving:-

 

The full beauty and complexity of the carved arch is only evident in close-up:-

 

And you know what?  I hadn't noticed the little carved face at the left hand side until I posted this photo!

One last trip to the Villa Rufolo tomorrow - I've got to go now, as it's the Writers' Group tonight.  And a useless fact to round the evening off: Richard Wagner was very fond of the place, which, according to my little book (Ravello: A Terrace Overlooking The Sea, by Mario Vassalluzzo, Matonti Editore, 2010)  was supposed to have inspired the garden and enchanted Castle of Kilngsor from Act 2 of Parsifal. 

I'm more of a 'Ring of the Nibelungs' fan myself, but hey, I won't hold that against it.  I believe they hold a Wagner concert (or is it a festival???) here every year....