Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Best attractions in Rapallo

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.




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.

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.


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.

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.

Perched high above the Ligurian coast, the Villa Pagana awaits you, a magnificent residence from the early 17th century that now serves as the magistral seat of the Order of Malta.

The small Chiesa di Sant'Anna, affectionately called "chiesetta antica" by the locals, was commissioned by Giovanni Maria Figari in 1629 and is beautifully situated along the historic Via Aurelia in the neighborhood of the same name in Rapallo.

The Castello di Punta Pagana, built in the early 17th century, stands as part of the historic Castelli del Tigullio in the private park of Villa Malta near Rapallo. The fortress was constructed in 1625 in response to the threat posed by Carlo Emanuele I of Savoy and was commissioned by the Republic of Genoa in 1631 - but it was never attacked.

High above the Gulf of Tigullio, at an altitude of 615 meters, stands the Santuario della Madonna di Caravaggio, offering you a breathtaking panoramic view of the Ligurian coast all the way to Genoa. The rich history of this sanctuary dates back to the 17th century when a small chapel was built to house a donated image of the Madonna. However, the original structure was destroyed by Genoese soldiers in 1790. After being rebuilt in the 19th century, the sanctuary survived both the bombings of World War II and acts of vandalism, until it was reopened in 1985 following extensive renovations. You can reach this Catholic church via a picturesque hiking trail from the Church of Ruta or the village of Santa Maria del Campo.


In the Ligurian port city of Rapallo, you will find the Villa del Trattato, a historic villa from the early 19th century, also known as Villa Spinola. Built by Marquis Ugo Spinola, this structure features distinctive brick facades and an English-inspired architectural style. It later became the property of Duke Nicolino De Ferrari, who promptly had his family crest placed above the main gate.

In the picturesque district of San Michele di Pagana in Rapallo, you will find the Chiesa di San Michele, which has a history dating back to 1133. This single-nave church houses an impressive collection of artworks, including a wooden crucifix by Anton Maria Maragliano and a significant painting of the Crucifixion by Van Dyck, created during his stay in the region between 1621 and 1624.

The "Oratory of the Whites" or "of the Most Holy Trinity" is a Catholic place of worship located in the municipality of Rapallo, in Vico della Rosa, in the metropolitan city of Genoa. The complex is home to the local confraternity of the Disciplinants known as "the Whites."

The "Pieve di Santo Stefano" - also known as the "Oratory of the Neri" - is a Catholic place of worship located in the historic center of the municipality of Rapallo, between Via Magenta and Vico della Rosa, in the metropolitan city of Genoa. The nearby Civic Tower, dating back to 1443, is also part of the complex.

The "Church of San Pietro" is a Catholic place of worship located in the district of San Pietro di Novella, on Via San Pietro, in the municipality of Rapallo in the metropolitan city of Genoa. The church is the seat of the homonymous parish of the Rapallo-Santa Margherita Ligure vicariate of the diocese of Chiavari.

Monte Zatta rises with its distinctive main peak at 1,404 meters in the Ligurian Apennines, forming an impressive mountain ridge along with two other peaks. While the southern side drops steeply and is rocky, the gentler northern side, with its expansive beech forest, invites you to hike. The mountain, also known as "Sàtta" by locals, is located in the Aveto Natural Park and serves as an important watershed between four valleys.

The "Church of San Francesco d'Assisi" is a Catholic place of worship located in the municipality of Rapallo, in Piazza San Francesco d'Assisi, in the metropolitan city of Genoa.

The "Monte Manico del Lume" is a mountain that rises to an altitude of 801 meters above sea level.

The "lace museum" is a museum site in Rapallo, in the metropolitan city of Genoa. Located within the municipal park "Luigi Casale," the exhibition spaces are housed on the lower floors of Villa Tigullio, which is owned by the municipality and was previously the location of the local international civic library.

The "Church of San Maurizio" is a place of Catholic worship located in the district of San Maurizio di Monti in the municipality of Rapallo, in the metropolitan city of Genoa. The church is the seat of the homonymous parish of the Rapallo-Santa Margherita Ligure vicariate of the diocese of Chiavari.

The "Church of Our Lady of the Assumption" is a place of Catholic worship located in the district of Santa Maria del Campo in the municipality of Rapallo, in the metropolitan city of Genoa. The church is the seat of the homonymous parish of the Rapallo-Santa Margherita Ligure vicariate of the diocese of Chiavari.

The "Cenobio di San Tomaso" was a place of Catholic worship located in the district of Santa Maria del Campo, in the San Tomaso neighborhood, within the municipality of Rapallo in the metropolitan city of Genoa.

The "Anglican Church of Saint George" was a place of Anglican worship located in the municipality of Rapallo, on Costaguta Street, in the metropolitan city of Genoa.
