The Perils of the Ravello Bus

Once known as "la città più tranquilla, solitaria e silenziosa del mondo," the mountaintop town of Ravello has been discovered by hordes of tourists, meaning it's not quite so tranquil as it used to be. Nowhere is that more evident than on the bus ride into town. There are one or two buses an hour (depending on the time of day and they stop running early some days) up to Ravello from Amalfi, and each is often crammed to seemingly twice its capacity.

Once the crowds have packed in, the fun really begins, as the bus weaves its way up the mountain. There are so many switchbacks you'll think the bus is going to deposit you back in Amalfi. The road is so narrow in places that it can only alternatively accommodate one-way traffic—of course, the payoff for this trying bus ride is heavenly Ravello. Be sure to get a bus schedule, get to the bus stop early, and don't expect orderly lines.