Rapallo is a commune in the province of Genoa about 30 kilometers from the capital city. It is situated
in the western part of the Golfo del Tigullio, and the modern part of the
city extends like an arch around
the inlet and up the slopes of the surrounding hills that present typical Mediterranean vegetation. This
characteristic Ligurian conformation of the land guarantees varied tourist offerings based on both coastal
and inland attractions. The two hamlets of Santa Maria del Campo and
San Massimo lie on the slopes of two
small valleys that join together becoming the Rio Bogo at the base
of the promontory at Portofino.
The tourist port is divided into a northern area (Porto Vecchio)
and a southern area comprising the new,
private Porto internazionale Carlo Riva which received the
Bandiera Blu [Blue Flag] award in 2007 for excellent service.
In addition to its attractive old town center, the sites to see in Rapallo include the admirable 16th
century castle (Castello cinquecentesco), built in 1551 on a jutting
cliff to defend the city from pirates,
near the beginning of the passeggiata Vittorio Emanuele,
the Torre Civica, the Porta delle Saline
(the only one remaining of five city gates that gave access to the ancient city center), the
Basilica dei santi
Gervasio e Protasio, the Santuario di Nostra Signora di Monteallegro,
the Ponte d'Annibale,
and the Museo del Merletto (in the Villa Tigullio)
whose collections comprise more than 1,400 pieces of lace-work
created from the 16th to the 20th centuries (Rapallo is renowned for this local handicraft, especially
gates that gave access to the ancient city center), the
Basilica dei santi
Gervasio e Protasio, the Santuario di Nostra Signora di Monteallegro,
the Ponte d'Annibale, and the
Museo del Merletto (in the Villa Tigullio)
whose collections comprise more than 1,400 pieces of lace-work
created from the 16th to the 20th centuries (Rapallo is renowned for this local handicraft, especially
bobbin/pillow-lace).
The local gastronomical specialties are based largely on seafood, but include also tasty
lasagne al pesto
[with a traditional basil sauce], foccacia all'olio and
frittelle ripiene. The most renowned local food
products are olive oil and dry and
sparkling white wine.
Nostra Signora di Montallegro, Rapallo's patron saint, is celebrated on
July 2nd, the Fiera di San Sebastiano
is held in January; the practically infinite number of other cultural and artistic events include film festivals,
concerts of all sorts, and the presentation of important literary prizes.
A final note - Friedrich Nietzsche came to Rapallo at the end of 1882
in search of comfort from his terrible
mental disease, and it was here that he found the inspiration for his Zarathustra.
