2 events on the Amalfi Coast in May.
The main harvest of the sfusato amalfitano — the Amalfi Coast's signature lemon — begins in May and transforms the terraced hillsides into a flurry of activity. Workers carry enormous baskets on their shoulders down ancient stone steps from groves that cling to near-vertical slopes. Many farms open for guided visits where you can pick lemons, learn about the centuries-old cultivation methods (the pergola system of trellises), and taste fresh limoncello made on-site. Restaurants switch to peak-lemon menus: lemon risotto, delizia al limone (lemon cream cake), lemon granita, and pasta al limone. This is the coast at its most fragrant and productive.
Farm visits typically 15-25 EUR per person including tasting. Some farms free if you buy products.
Book a farm tour in Ravello or Minori for the most authentic experience. The farms on the Sentiero dei Limoni between Minori and Maiori are family-run and less commercial than the ones advertised in Positano.
The gardens of Villa Rufolo in Ravello reach their peak in May, when the terraced grounds explode with roses, wisteria, bougainvillea, and exotic plants collected over centuries. Richard Wagner visited in 1880 and declared he had found the magic garden of Klingsor from Parsifal — the discovery that would eventually give birth to the Ravello Festival. The Moorish cloister, the 13th-century tower, and the famous Belvedere terrace 350 meters above the sea create a setting that merges medieval architecture with subtropical botany. In late May, the light is golden and the crowds are a fraction of July's chaos. One of the most beautiful garden experiences in Italy.
Villa Rufolo admission 10 EUR (adults), 8 EUR (reduced). Open daily 9:00-sunset.
Visit at opening (9 AM) or after 17:00 to avoid the cruise ship groups. The Belvedere terrace at sunset with the coast below is one of the great views of southern Italy.
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