Atrani to Ravello (old mule path)

This ancient mule path is the original highway between the coast and Ravello — the route that nobles, merchants, and bishops traveled for a thousand years before the modern road was carved in the 19th century. Starting from Atrani's tiny piazza beside the sea, you climb immediately via a stone stairway that passes through the village's medieval core. The path is steep but well-maintained, switching between covered passages under buildings and open terraces with expanding views. About halfway up, you pass through a grove of ancient oaks and chestnuts where the temperature drops and birds fill the canopy. The Dragone Valley opens up to your left, revealing layer after layer of terraced hillside. The final approach to Ravello delivers you through cultivated gardens and into the town through a side entrance near the Villa Rufolo. The entire climb gains 300 meters of elevation in just 3 kilometers, making it a genuine workout, but the reward is arriving in one of Italy's most beautiful hilltop towns having earned every meter of altitude.

Start: Atrani, a 5-minute walk from Amalfi. Both on SITA bus route and ferry service. End: Ravello center. Return by SITA bus to Amalfi (25 min) if you prefer not to walk down.