Ravello is a southern Italian town on the famous Amalfi Coast that is perched high above the ocean and boasts a panorama that Gore Vidal once described as “the most beautiful in the world.” It is a refined, polished town that has Roman and Medieval roots and reflects a diverse range of historic styles in its architectural identity. However, one of the town's most beautiful buildings is a far more recent addition.
The Auditorium of Ravello, designed by famous Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer was commissioned in 2000 and was constructed in 2011. Located on a slope, at 365m above sea level, it was built to help accommodate larger crowds that might want to attend performances of concerts, dance recitals and plays throughout the whole year. There are several beautiful outdoor venues around the town – Villa Rufolo, Villa Cimbrone, Piazza Duomo and Piazza San Giovanni del Toro, to name a few – but none seat much more than a hundred people and aren't closed off to the elements to allow use no matter the weather. The addition of the Auditorium changed all of this.
Upon beginning the project, Niemeyer noted the many difficulties that he faced, such as the "uneven ground,” which was, “narrow with a very strong transverse orientation” but the resulting building is a harmonious beauty that does not reflect these issues.
Accessed by an oblong square, the main concert hall is built into the natural slope of the land and the orchestra stand and the foyer are projecting boldly into the void, without a visible support. The exterior is a pure white, concave-shaped building that has a large access window and makes the most of its position and views and blends into its lovely natural setting harmoniously.
Also an art centre, the space is used periodically as an exhibition space to house extraordinary pieces of sculpture and other works of art. Located on the Via della Repubblica, about a hundred meters from the tunnel that leads to the town’s main square, the Piazza Vescovado, it is easily accessible for visitors to the town. Whether you come to take in a performance or an art show or to simply check out the stunning building and views, it is a must-see beauty if you have found a vacation rental in Ravello.
Upon beginning the project, Niemeyer noted the many difficulties that he faced, such as the "uneven ground,” which was, “narrow with a very strong transverse orientation” but the resulting building is a harmonious beauty that does not reflect these issues.
Accessed by an oblong square, the main concert hall is built into the natural slope of the land and the orchestra stand and the foyer are projecting boldly into the void, without a visible support. The exterior is a pure white, concave-shaped building that has a large access window and makes the most of its position and views and blends into its lovely natural setting harmoniously.
Also an art centre, the space is used periodically as an exhibition space to house extraordinary pieces of sculpture and other works of art. Located on the Via della Repubblica, about a hundred meters from the tunnel that leads to the town’s main square, the Piazza Vescovado, it is easily accessible for visitors to the town. Whether you come to take in a performance or an art show or to simply check out the stunning building and views, it is a must-see beauty if you have found a vacation rental in Ravello.
Photo credit: Zioluc / CC BY-SA 4.0