Rapallo
From CruisersWiki
Rapallo, Italy
| Rapallo
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 Porto Publico (top) and Carlo Riva Marina (bottom) |
The town and harbour of Rapallo lie in a sheltered position at the head of a small gulf, which has one of the most benign climates along the whole of the Ligurian coast of Italy. This accounts for its popularity with wealthy Italians living in NW Italy, whose opulent villas line the hills behind the town. Famous residents attracted by the mild winters and scenic hinterland include the American poet Ezra Pound and the English writer Max Beerbohm. Rapallo has its place in history, too, as the venue for the signing of a peace treaty between Italy and the future Yugoslavia in 1920, which defined the borders between the two nations, and a similar treaty between the Russians and Germans in 1922, which lasted until the Nazi invasion of Russia in 1941. The attraction for yachtsmen here is the sheltered harbour and its Carlo Riva Marina, which offers a useful alternative to the frenetically busy harbour of Portofino four miles to the S.
Charts
- British Admiralty
- 1998 - Nice to Livorno
- Italian
- 909
- 107
- 3
Weather
The prevailing winds along the western part of the Ligurian coast during the summer are a SW or SE seabreeze, which rarely gets up much above force 4-5. Along the eastern part of the coast, the winds tend to come more from W or NW and are again usually little more than moderate. While infrequent, gales are not unknown during the spring and early summer and are typically caused by depressions further west in the Golfe du Lion which bring strong N winds as they move further E. In winter, the tramontana, a strong N wind off the Alps, is more frequent, although the libecchio is a strong SW wind that can affect the whole of the Ligurian coast and blow for several days, causing heavy seas.
Sources for weather forecasts:
- There is a continuous (computerised voice) weather forecast on VHF 68 - first in Italian and then followed with an English translation
- The same forecast is given in Italian and English on VHF coastal stations following a notification on channel 16
- Navtex weather forecasts are broadcast from stations at La Garde (Toulon), Roma and Cagliari (Sardinia)
Passages
Popular passages/routes, timing, etc.
Islands
None.
Communication
Also see World Cruiser's Nets.
The harbour of Rapallo lies at the head of the Golfo Marconi four miles N of Capo Portofino. The harbour breakwaters and a castle situated on the shore at the N end of the bay are conspicuous in the approach. Entry is from N around the L-shaped outer breakwater.
Berthing
There are two basins in Rapallo harbour, the Porto Publico to the N and the Carlo Riva Marina to the S. In effect, the Porto Publico is invariably full of local craft and is, in addition, rather shallow. Visiting yachts normally berth in the Carlo Riva Marina, where there are 400 berths for yachts up to 45 metres on three piers and the breakwater quays. It gets very busy here during the July and August peak season.
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
Anchorages
- In settled weather a yacht can anchor off the beach at the head of the bay, clear of the small craft moorings. Depths here are 3.0 - 5.0 metres and the bottom is mud. Shelter is good from all directions except S and SE.
Yacht Repairs and Services
Marine Stores
Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.
Repairs/Yards
Fuel, Water, & Electricity
Things to do Ashore
Tourism
The town and waterfront of Rapallo, while not as picturesque as Portofino, are most attractive. At the northern end of the bay is the impressive Castello sul Mare (castle on the sea), built in the 16th century to protect the harbour from pirate incursions. A cable car runs up to the top of the mountain of Montallegro, where there is a 16th century sanctuary commemorating a sighting of the Virgin Mary in 1557. The hinterland is green and mountainous and there are some lovely walks in the Parco Naturale Regionale di Portofino of which Rapallo is part. The philosopher Friedrich Nietsche is said to have conceived the idea for his monumental work Also Sprach Zarathustra while walking here.
Grocery & Supply Stores
- Good shopping for provisions in the town.
- Excellent farmers market on Thursdays.
Eateries
Numerous trattorias and bars along the waterfront.
Internet/WiFi
Laundry
Motorbike & Car Rentals
Rental outlets in the town.
Garbage Disposal
Transportation
- Buses to Genoa
Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forums
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
Links
- Rapallo at the Wikipedia
- Municipal website
References & Publications
See Italy.
Comments
We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.
Verified by
Date of member's last visit to Rapallo and this page's details validated:
- Data compiled from web research (please update if possible)--Athene of Lymington 11:51, 30 November 2010 (UTC)
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 Contributors to this page |
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Names: Lighthouse, Athene of Lymington |
