Rapallo

Access

The connections are excellent: Rapallo is located along the Genoa-La Spezia railway and has a central railway station. The Genova-Livorno motorway links it quickly to Genoa (about 30 km away) and La Spezia. It is also served by a local bus network and maritime transport in the gulf. The nearest airport is Cristoforo Colombo in Genoa.

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Introduction

Rapallo is an important town on the Riviera Ligure di Levante, located in the Gulf of Tigullio, between Portofino and Chiavari. Overlooking a wide gulf surrounded by verdant hills, the town combines a maritime soul with a tourist tradition that has made it one of Liguria's most popular destinations since the 19th century. Famous for its castle by the sea and its Art Nouveau villas that bear witness to the golden age of aristocratic tourism, Rapallo is still today a place of great cultural, seaside and gastronomic appeal.

Description

The municipal territory stretches along the coastal strip and extends to the hills behind, covered with olive groves and Mediterranean scrub. The natural environment is characterised by panoramas that range from the sea to the Ligurian Apennines, with itineraries leading towards Monte di Portofino and the Marian sanctuaries that dot the hills. Among the distinctive elements of the landscape are the beaches and tree-lined promenades, which coexist with the marina and facilities dedicated to pleasure boating.
Rapallo's history has its roots in Roman times, when it was a small coastal settlement, and developed in the Middle Ages under the protection of Genoa. In the following centuries, the city was repeatedly disputed between maritime powers, suffering Saracen raids that led to the construction of defensive towers such as the Castle by the Sea (1551). In modern times, Rapallo gained more and more prestige, until between the 19th and 20th century it became one of the tourism capitals of the Riviera, frequented by European intellectuals and royalty. The city is also known for the Rapallo Treaties of 1920 and 1922, signed respectively between Italy and Yugoslavia and between Germany and Russia.
The economy today is strongly oriented towards tourism, thanks to hotels, bathing establishments, restaurants and the tourist port, one of the largest in Liguria. There is no shortage of activities related to crafts, catering and trade, while olive trees and vineyards are cultivated in the hilly areas. The local gastronomy is renowned for its cheese focaccia, similar to that of Recco, and for fish dishes, including stuffed anchovies and seafood soups.
Religious and popular traditions are particularly strong: among the most famous is the patron saint's festival in July dedicated to Our Lady of Montallegro, during which impressive fireworks displays are held over the sea, attracting visitors from all over the Riviera. The Holy Week celebrations and historical re-enactments are also important.
Rapallo is an ideal starting point for excursions and trekking: the paths that climb up to the Sanctuary of Montallegro (612 m), which can also be reached by cable car, offer spectacular views over the Gulf of Tigullio; the routes that connect Rapallo to Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure and Camogli are equally suggestive. History and art enthusiasts can visit the historic centre with its caruggi, the Lace Museum and numerous churches.

Information

Area: 33.61 sq km
Altitude:5m
Maximum elevation: Monte Borgo (732m)
 Number of inhabitants: 30493
 Name in dialect:
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Neighbouring towns: Avegno, Camogli, Cicagna, Coreglia Ligure, Recco, San Colombano Certenoli, Santa Margherita Ligure, Tribogna, Zoagli
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