For centuries, Rapallo has attracted many of Europe's aristocracy. The complex and varied world of art, the architecture of religious sites, palaces and public buildings is living proof of the creativity and prosperity of the local population, as well as its intricate history.
Excursions to Rapallo take visitors on an interweaving of styles, from Romanesque to Gothic, Baroque to Rococo and from Liberty to Rationalism. Wandering through the streets will be a pleasure even for the experienced traveller!
The sightseeing tour of Rapallo is done on a tourist train. The tour takes visitors through the main square, the promenade, the narrow streets of Rapallo's old town, and the fascinating houses, museums, churches and stone bridges.
The museums offer displays of local craftsmen who transformed paper, iron, and wood into art. The exhibitions of silk, embroidery, lace and velvet produced in Rapallo are particularly noteworthy. Museums vary in price from a few euros and there are discounts for schoolchildren, students and pensioners. Keep in mind that many museums, galleries and heritage sites are closed on Mondays. In addition, lunchtime is extended to around 15:00-16:00 in the summer due to the intense heat.
A bus tour of Rapallo is perfectly combined with a trip to the neighbouring village of San Michele di Pagana, which is situated in a picturesque bay. The village is very colourful thanks to the colourful fishermen's houses.
Not far from the beach, there is a memorial park where on every tree are inscribed the names of the soldiers from Rapallo who died in the two world wars. After strolling through the park, you can take a look at the promenade, which begins from the small stream Conventino to the castle that once belonged to the Order of Malta. Then, walking further towards Creus, you can reach San Michele. Note the preservation of precious works of art in the village, including 17th century paintings by Van Dyck (info on the village of San Michele).
In addition, Rapallo is interesting for its marina. It was here that Carlo Riva opened the first tourist port in Italy in 1975. Carlo Riva, an experienced sailor and pioneer of seafaring holidays, created a marina in Rapallo harbour modelled on the one in Cannes. The marina can accommodate 400 boats. There is a yacht club here (for more information on boat rentals, click here).
Russian excursions in Rapallo are available, but the majority of the international language is English. Some tourist companies offer services for individual and group excursions with a guide in Rapallo.
