From immemorial time opposite to near Scala but also to the strongest Amalfi, Ravello, according to the tradition, would derive its name from a riot that local patricians organized against Amalfi which did not want to take part to the expedition against Alessio Comneno, imperator of Bisanzio, in 1081, riot which instead was wanted by Normans and supported by people from Ravello.

In 1086, it became Episcopal centre independent from Amalfi always for Normans’will and Ravello gained a central role as trade power.

It often had to defend itself by external attacks, the first time the town was able to resist, the second time because of the sudden arrival of the enemy it was not able to fight back and as a consequence the whole Amalfi Dukedom toppled and had a lot of human being and material losses. Along the centuries it was able to preserve a certain economic robustness even though there have been numerous plagues and also some earthquakes which hard put to the architectures of the town.

The Middle Ages opened this area to influences from the Mediterranean East thanks to the trade that Amalfi and all the lands of the Duchy, which stretched from Vietri sul Mare to the island of Capri, entertained with Byzantine ports. Subsequent history saw the enfeoffment of the area by Italian patrician families who acted as great patrons of the land. The transition from feudalism to municipalities was due to a great gesture of love for their land on the part of the inhabitants, who redeemed the Coast at great cost