Sunday, July 3rd 2022:
As usual, it’s that time of the year when Rapallo celebrates the anniversary of the apparition of Mary (on the Montallegro hills) with a colorful array of fireworks, as well as the burning of its castle. This year is particularly favourable, as the first 3 days of July happen to be over the weekend. So, in case you are busy on Sunday, you might still be able to catch the show on Friday or Saturday evening!
As for Sunday… shall we renew our tradition of hiking on a trail leading to the Montallegro shrine?
Since it will be a bit hot, the plan is to do the coastal Ligurian trail, from Chiavari to S.Bernardo, across the churches of S.Maria delle Grazie, S.Pietro, S.Pantaleo and S.Ambrogio. Trail doesn’t have much elevation gain and offers plenty of refreshing water taps along the way. Once we get to the remains of S.Bernardo chapel, we’ll try to get to the Montallegro shrine by following the S.Bernardo-Monte Castello trail, that was opened last year. Not much is known about it, but the fact that https://portofinotrek.com/en/from-rapallo/97-rapallo-san-bernardo-monte-castello-sant-ambrogio-rapallo.html describes it as pleasant is somehow reassuring!
Once we get to Montallegro, we can head down to the Rapallo seaside via cable car, bus or on foot, as usual. Will it be possible to swim? Hopefully we’ll be luckier than in S.Fruttuoso! (but make sure you bring a snorkeling mask, so you can spot any jellyfish tentacles around you)
Hike is rather long (4 hours) but easy-medium.
You may read more about the festival on:
How to get to Chiavari, and how to come back alive:
On Sunday, July 3rd, let’s meet at the entrance of Chiavari train station at 11:14.
Suggested trains are:
— if you travel eastwards
REG 12345 10:05 Genova Brignole – 11:03 Chiavari
(there’s also REG 3099 – 10:24 Genova Piazza Principe 11:14 Chiavari, however be warned that you may see the Montallegro Madonna on this one, as it’s coming from Milano and likely to be packed)
— if you travel westwards
Reg 3261 – 09:50 La Spezia Centrale – 10:32 Chiavari
— if you travel southwards (*)
Reg 3099 – Milano Lambrate 08:30 Chiavari 11:14
Return will be from Rapallo railway station… around 6pm (without fireworks) or midnight (if you’re up for watching the complete show).
(*) if you’re coming from afar, you may consider getting the 3 day regional pass for 29 euro. Or the summer ticket (4 weekends) for 39 euro.
As usual, if you have doubts, questions, Hamlet-like dilemmas… feel free to message me! (at vidlothianATgmailDOTcom or +393297203364)
Liguriah 