A visit to Villa Tigullio, which was built in the seventeenth century by the Spinola family, is a must on a Rapallo itinerary. The private house served as a bastion. The villa underwent a major restoration in the 19th century and was later purchased by the British.
The villa is surrounded by the Casale Park with rare exotic plants and birds. In 1974 Villa Tigullio was bought by the municipality of Rapallo and became a public property. Now it houses an international library on two floors with around 46 thousand volumes. The villa is also home to the Civic Museum of Bobbin Lace, which has 3 rooms on the ground floor and 5 rooms on the ground floor. There are 1400 items of clothing and fittings dating from the 16th to the 20th centuries on display. During the summer period the villa is open to the public on Mondays and Thursdays from 09:30 to 12:30 and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 15:00 to 19:00.
Hiking trails in Rapallo should also include a visit to the local history museum, which is located within the walls of the former Clarissa Convent. Tourists will see exquisite collections of jewellery, ivory, porcelain, sculpture and paintings dating from the 14th and 20th centuries, carefully collected over the last 40 years by Attilio Gaffoglio. The collection counts 303 masterpieces, the oldest and most valuable of which are the ivory objects from the Venetian workshop Embriachi. Villa Tigulio is open to visitors on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 16:00 to 19:00 and on Thursday from 10:00 to 12:00.
The Rapallo itinerary does not exclude a visit to the historic Fieschi Torre Civica from 1473 and the port of Salina, of which only a single gate remains. The itineraries of the walks in Rapallo also lead travelers to the Basilica of Saints Gervasius and Protasius which was consecrated in 1118 and restored at the beginning of the XVII century, the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in 1519 and the 13th century Monastery of Valle Christi.
For example, here you can take the cable car to the Montallegro nature reserve. It offers a beautiful view of the resort and the Gulf of Tigullio. The maximum height of the cable car is 612 metres above sea level. On the slope of the mountain is the shrine of the Madonna of Montallegro, dating back to 1558. The shrine attracts numerous pilgrims and tourists. The façade of the church is in a monumental neo-Gothic style.
The elegant Rapallo promenade, which stretches from the port to the castle on the sea, deserves particular attention. The promenade is the perfect place to end your walk. Here you can enjoy the sunset, listen to the sound of the sea while relaxing on a bench surrounded by palm trees and Mediterranean plants. On the opposite side of the promenade, tourists can refresh themselves in restaurants, cafes and bars.
