Sunday, 2nd July – 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 (both at midday and at night). This year we’ll probably miss the burning of the castle (since it happens on Monday), but we’ll be able to enjoy plenty of fireworks over the weekend.
Since Sunday has a better weather and sea forecast, let’s pick it for our Montallegro hike: besides, according to tradition, it’s on a hot second day of July from 500 years ago that the Virgin Mary appeared in front of a shepherd on the Rapallo mountains and handed him a Byzantine portrait, that can be seen on the altar of the shrine (should you prefer to hike on Saturday, please head to the bottom of this event description for an alternative hike).
The Sunday plan then is to follow the classic route described on https://portofinotrek.com/it/da-rapallo/46-119-rapallo-sant-ambrogio-montallegro-rapallo.html#/1-passante_per-rapallo, possibly with the detour to see the via Crucis on Mt Rosa. This will allow us to benefit from a trail that runs mostly in the shade of the Montallegro woods and have a few water taps along the way (as well as several lookout points over the Portofino peninsula).
Will it be possible to swim? Hopefully yes, the sea might be a bit rough, but the Castello dei Sogni or Pozzetto beaches should offer enough protection from the waves. If the sea turns out to be calm, we might even be able to try the recently opened Natural Swimming Pool (a body of sea water, marked by buoys, that supposedly connects Castello dei Sogni to Pozzetto).
Hike is rather long (3,5-4 hours) but easy-medium.
You may read more about the festival on:
Pagina principale
How to get to Rapallo, and how to come back alive:
On Sunday, July 2nd, let’s meet at the entrance of Rapallo train station at 10:53.
Suggested trains are:
— if you travel eastwards
REG 12345 10:05 Genova Brignole – 10:53 Rapallo
— if you travel westwards
Reg 3261 – 09:50 La Spezia Centrale – 10:40 Rapallo
— if you travel southwards () Reg 3015 – Milano Centrale (Lambrate) 07:25 (07:32) Rapallo 10:02 ()
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.
As usual, if you have doubts, questions, Hamlet-like dilemmas… feel free to message me! (at vidlothianATgmailDOTcom or +393297203364)
PS: If anyone is in the mood for a rather adventurous quest in uncharted lands on Saturday, plan is to visit the famous and elusive Castello della Pietra, which we have never managed to reach in 13 years of hiking. The updated bus timetables give us a glimmer of hope that it might be feasible to get there. In truth, a good deal of luck with public transportation will still be required, to get to Vobbia starting point of the hike, but if you’re feeling lucky let me know: we can try to draw a plan on how to get to the legendary Trail of Castellans leading to the castle that’s nested between two mountains of conglomerate. Hike takes around 1,5 hours (one way) and is wonderfully described on https://sentieridautore.it/2021/04/12/il-castello-della-pietra/
Liguriah 