Rapallo is beautifully located on the Gulf of Tigullio, just a few kilometers from Genoa. With around 29,000 residents, this coastal town has been a popular destination for tourists since the 19th century. The heart of the town is undoubtedly its historic center, a maze of cobbled alleys, craft shops, and cozy cafés where you can fully experience the authentic Ligurian atmosphere.
A visit to the Castello sul Mare – the town's iconic landmark is particularly delightful, as is a relaxing stroll along the Lungomare Vittorio Veneto promenade. A trip to the popular Santuario di Montallegro, with its breathtaking panoramic views, is also a must.
In addition to relaxing beach days, you can go hiking in the nearby Portofino Natural Park or take a boat trip to the neighboring towns of Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure.
Top Highlights of Rapallo
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Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montallegro
Rapallo, Liguria, Italy
High above Rapallo, at 612 meters, stands the Santuario di Nostra Signora di Montallegro, one of the most important Marian shrines in Liguria. This pilgrimage site, built in the 16th century after a Marian apparition and elevated to basilica status in 1942, impresses with its neobaroque architecture featuring a marble façade and houses a precious Byzantine icon of the Assumption of Mary.
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Lungomare di Rapallo
Rapallo, Liguria, Italy
Chiosco della musica
Rapallo, Liguria, Italy
Funicular Rapallo - Montallegro
Rapallo, Liguria, Italy
Castle of Rapallo
Rapallo, Liguria, Italy
The striking Castello di Rapallo stands right by the sea and was built within just one year as a defensive structure after a devastating attack by the Turkish pirate Dragut in 1549.
Basilica of Saints Gervasio and Protasio
Rapallo, Liguria, Italy
The impressive Basilica dei Santi Gervasio e Protasio dominates the skyline of Rapallo with its 67-meter-high bell tower, the tallest in all of Liguria. This neoclassical building, whose history dates back to 1118, is crowned by a striking octagonal dome topped with a bronze Madonna.
Porta delle Saline
Rapallo, Liguria, Italy
Valle Christi
Rapallo, Liguria, Italy
In the picturesque hills near Rapallo, you will find the Monastero di Valle Christi, one of the few preserved Gothic monastery ruins in Liguria. Founded in 1204 by the noblewomen Altilia Malfanti and her sister Tibia, this Cistercian monastery impresses with its Gothic-Romanesque architecture, featuring a distinctive apse and an intricately decorated bell tower.
Parco Canessa
Rapallo, Liguria, Italy
Heavy metal centre
Rapallo, Liguria, Italy
The "monastic complex of the Poor Clares" was a place of Catholic worship located in the municipality of Rapallo, in Piazzale Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, in the metropolitan city of Genoa.
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History
Rapallo has a long history dating back to ancient times, with the first settlements from the 8th century BC. In the Middle Ages, the town was under Genoese rule and was protected in the 16th century with the construction of the Castello sul Mare to defend against pirate attacks. Particularly significant is the Treaty of Rapallo in 1920, which was signed after World War I between Italy and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, addressing the border issues of the region.
