In the heart of Gulf of Tigullio, Rapallo offers several opportunities of culture, sport and entertainment. Do you want to discover what to do and where to go during your holiday in Rapallo? Here’s a short guide to the possibilities that are waiting for you: a quick digression of useful information between attractions, events, sports complexes and breathtaking hikes; this city is in constant motion, it offers both inhabitants and tourists a large number of opportunities of entertainment and relax in each period of the year.
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Main attractions in Rapallo
Santuario di Montallegro, one of the dearest places to rapallesi, is located 612 meters above sea level. It can be reached by walk thanks to an ancient mule track 3.850 meters long, by car, by bus or by cable car.
The ancient castle on the sea was realized in 1550 and it’s now a symbol of the city. Today it’s a site of exhibitions and cultural events. On 3rd July of every year it’s “set fire to” for July Festival.
“Attilio and Cleofe Gaffoglio” Museum, in Piazzale Josemaria Escriva, keeps precious jewellery collections, ivories, pieces of porcelain, sculptures and paintings. Among the most precious objects there are some that were realized by Karl Fabergé in St. Petersburg.
On the ground floor of Villa Tigullio, there’s the only Lace Museum throughout Liguria. It exhibits artifacts dating from 16th to 20th century. Exceptionally interest is a panel of big dimensions draws by Lele Luzzati in 1964.
The upper floors of Villa Tigullio, inside Parco Casale, are occupied by the international library of Rapallo, with collections of ancient and modern books which are available both for consultation and for loan. Almost every Saturday the library holds cultural events.
The former thirteenth-century monastic complex of Valle Christi is located at the slope of San Massimo hamlet. It has been inserted in national monuments list and it’s one of the few surviving examples of Gothic architecture on the entire Ligurian territory.
In the evocative San Michele di Pagana (that deserves to be visited also for the breathtaking panorama) is situated San Michele Arcangelo church. It keeps great artistic treasure such as the Crocifissione di Gesù realized by the Flemish painter Antoon Van Dyck.
At the cross road of Via Magenta and Vico degli Oratori, in the heart of historic centre, there are the Oratorio dei Neri (where stands out the Torre Civica) and the Oratorio dei Bianchi which keeps artistic treasure such as San Sebastiano statue realized by Anton Maria Maragliano.
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What to do in Rapallo
This cable car, opened in 1934, is the only cable car system throughout Liguria and it was one of the few that wasn’t built for transport of skiers. It allows to reach Montallegro in 7 minutes and the difference in height is about 600 meters. The departure station is located in P.le Silvio Solari 2 Tel. +39 0185 52341
In the middle of Rapallo promenade it’s possible to board for boat trips to Portofino promontory, to eastern Tigullio towards Moneglia and Sestri Levante, to explore Cinque Terre or for eno-gastronomic tours. Consult lines and timetable.
Among the most fascinating paths there is, without a doubt, the ancient Mulattiera of Montallegro. To report also the naturalistic area of Tuja Valley with water mills. There are also some paths that lead from the Sanctuary to Chiavari or Margherita Shelter on Pegge Mount.
Promontory of Portofino offers numerous fascinating dive sites for all lovers of scuba diving in a marine environment which is full of flora and fauna thanks also to the creation of the marine protected area. It’s also possible to dive in caves and wreckages.
Beaches
The coast, that stretches from Castello dei Sogni beach to the borders of Santa Margherita Ligure , offers different solutions and bathing establishments open also in winter for heliotherapy. Among the most breathtaking places, San Michele di Pagana stands out with Trelo and Prelo bays.
Main events in Rapallo
On 1st, 2nd and 3rd July, Rapallo celebrates the feast day in honor of N.S. di Montallegro with religious services, Panegirico fireworks, solemn procession with ancient wooden cristi and three evenings of magnificent fireworks organized by the six Sestieri of the city
In the magnificent frame of Valle Christi goes on stage the summer festival of theatre. Over the years, the festival has welcomed Giorgio Albertazzi, Dario Fo and Franca Rame, Arnoldo Foà, Moni Ovadia, Michele Placido, Ugo Pagliai, Valentina Cortese, Lella Costa, Elisabetta Pozzi and more.
The MIC – Mostra Internazionale dei Cartoonist (International Cartoonist Exhibition) is an unmissable appointment for all comics lovers. It was born in Rapallo in 1972 and it’s one of the ancient exhibitions of this sector. It’s promoted by Rapalloonia association and every year it welcomes the most famous Italian cartoonists.
Services and sports complexes in Rapallo
This Harbour opened on 26 July 1975 and it was the first touristic harbour born in Italy. Carlo Riva Harbour – where is located our estate agent’s – is a structure dedicated at the most demanding sea lovers.
Circolo Golf and Tennis, opened all year round, is a sport complex with golf course with 18 holes. It was designed in 1929 and it was opened in 1931; today it’s an excellence famous all over the world.
This sport complex is composed by indoor pool (25x16m), outdoor pool for children (depth 80cm) and Olympic pool, with play area, beach volley, break room and gym.
Clarisse Auditorium Theatre is located inside the church of the monastic complex of Clarisse of 1633. The theatre holds 256 people, of which 180 in the stalls and 76 in the circle.
A little heaven ready to welcome all horse riding lovers. Rapallo Horse Club is situated behind tollgate, in Santa Maria del Campo 195. Tel. +39 0185.261667
In the heart of Parco Casale is located the minigolf which is run by Rapallo Minigolf Team. Several national and international tournaments and competitions are organized in these tracks.
Rapallo bowls cup M. Gandolfi is composed by two sports grounds, one of which is indoor and the other one is outdoor. It’s located in Piazza Cile 1, with parking places in the area. Tel. 0185 50929
The rifle range A. Fumel is equipped with stand of 10m, 25m and 50m (both outdoor and tunnel). It’s situated behind tollgate, in Strada ai campi di tiro 3. Tel +39 0185 260013
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Main contacts
Town Hall of Rapallo Piazza delle Nazioni 4 – Tel. +39 0185.6801 IAT – Tourist Office Lungomare V.Veneto 38 – Tel. +39 0185.230346 N.S. di Montallegro Hospital Via S. Pietro 8 – Tel. +39 0185.683111 A&E in Lavagna Via Don Bobbio, 25 – Lavagna Croce Bianca Rapallese Piazza Cile 5 – Tel. 0185.230000 Volontari del Soccorso Via Arpinati 20A – Tel. 0185.262626 CHEMISTS Internazionale Via Milite Ignoto 1 – Tel. +39 0185.231063 Tonolli Via Mazzini 46 – Tel. +39 0185.50296 Ribaldone Piazza Cavour 10 – Tel. +39 0185.50600 Montallegro Via della Libertà 106 – Tel. +39 0185.53395 S.Anna C.so Mameli 267 – Tel. +39 0185.67024 Angloamericana C.so Matteotti 21 – Tel. +39 0185.50554 Colombo C.so Colombo 32 – Tel. +39 0185.61948 Novella Via Betti 101 – Tel. +39 0185.1752267 Comunale Via S.Anna – Tel. +39 0185.207633
Information about Rapallo
Population and territory
Rapallo is a comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa. In January 2019 it counted 29.692 inhabitants and a surface of 33,61 Km²
Tourist Tax
Since 2018 Rapallo, such as neighbouring resorts, enforces Tourist Tax from the 1st of March to the 31st of October. Tourist Tax concerns also furnished apartments for tourist use. More information.
How to get to Rapallo
By Car: Rapallo is connected with motorway A12 Genoa-Rosignano and you can exit at Rapallo tollgate. As an alternative there is also SS1 Aurelia that links Genoa and La Spezia. By Train: Rapallo is connected to the line Genoa-La Spezia-Rome both with local trains and with Intercity and Frecce. By Plane: Rapallo is only 40 km away from Genoa Airport.
Transport services
In centre it’s available the free service named Free city bus. Other connections with Atp bus, Taxi (Tel. +39 0185.259385) and sea transport by boats.
Other unmissable destinations close to Rapallo
Close to Rapallo there are a lot of cities that deserve a visit during your holiday in Gulf of Tigullio, such as Santa Margherita Ligure or the famous Portofino, the evocative Camogli, with the breathtaking houses perched over the sea, or the east seaside resorts: from Zoagli to Chiavari or Sestri Levante, which is famous for the Bay of Silence.
Ancient Benedictine monastery, dating back to 1000, was used as a pirate base and then as a fishing village. A true oasis which is located between the sea and the greenery of Mount Portofino.
Since 1935 Parco di Portofino, with 80Km of paths, protects flora, fauna and the beauty of the territory of Tigullio offering memorable experiences to its visitors.
The Acquario di Genova, which is made rich by the interior department “Giardino tropicale – Un battito d’ali”, is the biggest exposition of aquatic biodiversity in Europe. An unique destination, not to be missed.
The boat trip in the heart of “Santuario dei cetacei” is perfect for people of all ages. The aim: search and observation of 8 species of sea mammals that populate the marine area.
