In Rapallo, the Carlo Riva harbor comes back to life. It is all new and has 250 berths
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Rapallo is finally getting its own marina again, thanks to the redevelopment of the Carlo Riva Port that was destroyed after the
sea storm of October 2018
. The new port was inaugurated with a redevelopment project overseen by the real estate redevelopment firm Bizzi & Partners, and had from the outset the desire to return Rapallo to a modern and technologically highly advanced marina.
Inaugurated in 1975, the Rapallo landing place (the first private marina in Italy) was designed by engineer Carlo Riva (founder of the Riva shipyards in Sarnico), and the new marina that has just been opened is also named after him. In 2018, a major weather event affecting Tigullio led to the collapse of the breakwater, with substantial damage to the entire harbor and the boats moored there. Today the Carlo Riva Harbor is shining again.
A new port above safety standards
The new project therefore included a very challenging first phase (completed in 2022) with the complete rebuilding of the breakwater and all structural works defending the harbor. The new facility is able to adapt to the potential consequences of climate change, with safety standards well above those required by law. The massive structure protecting the harbor was built using 1,600 tetrapods of twenty tons each, 170 thousand tons of reefs, and a 7-meter sea-level breakwater wall.
The architectural design was signed by architect Susanna Scarabicchi, founder of Tectoo Studio, while the work was managed by Bizzi & Partners Group and carried out by Savarese Construction and Sales. The total amount required for the work is more than 70 million euros, more than half of which was used to resurface the breakwater.
What the new Carlo Riva Port looks like
The new Carlo Riva marina is a landing place that can accommodate 250 boats ranging from 7.5 to 60 meters in length and a maximum draft of 5 meters along the facility’s nine protected docks and piers. As a result, the number of berths has been reduced from about 400 in the old marina. In addition to fuel stations, there is also infrastructure for charging both cars and electric-powered boats.
A new underground parking lot has been built in the marina, and there are a number of businesses, including two restaurants, an ice cream bar, clothing and nautical equipment stores, a grocery store, and boat services, as well as concierge and security guard. The main dock also includes the opening of a panoramic Club House, with windows overlooking both Rapallo and the sea.
The marina is fully operational at sea, while onshore facilities will be completed in the coming months. Eighty percent of the non-potable water used in the harbor comes from the Rapallo sewage treatment plant, and the Carlo Riva Harbor was also designed with an eye toward protecting the local marine flora and fauna, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment.
Present at the presentation press conference were Senate President Ignazio La Russa, Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala, Rapallo Mayor Carlo Bagnasco, and Region President Giovanni Toti. Toti himself stressed the importance of the new Carlo Riva Port also as a driver for the local economy, with the creation of more than 200 new jobs among the marina staff.
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1 thought on “In Rapallo, the Carlo Riva harbor comes back to life. It is all new and has 250 berths”
I visited Rapollo a week or two before the storm, to spend time with my Italian friends from North Sails. Rapollo has been my go to place when I am in the area or attending the Genoa Boat Show. It is a small town with very welcoming shops and people. During the Genoa boat show I prefer to stay in Rapollo because it is far enough away from the craziness of the Genoa Show, and the lines for meals, etc. are much shorter.
The pictures of the new marina show a substantial upgrade from what was there before, and with the added sea protection and ability to accommodate larger yachts it will attract more tourism. Also, with limited room in Portofino, it could be an excellent stopover place for those interested in visiting Portofino. The local businesses should benefit, particularly the restaurants. I hope the marina upgrade didn’t displace the small fishing fleet that was there.
When in Rapollo I usually stay at the Rosa Bianca. It is a small enough hotel, and well situated to serve my needs. Given the size, when staying there you feel as if you are at a friend’s house. As I have stayed there dozens of time I got to know the staff and visa versa. It became a very friendly relationship, and they tried to satisfy any reasonable needs I had.
One thing I always look forward to is taking a cappuccino at a cafe while watching the “world” go by on the passeggiata sul mare. Most important, being a typical American I learned, as we say “how to smell the roses”.
I know Portofino’s access road was washed away during the storm, and that access was limited to essentially water taxis or ferry services. I would be very curious to learn how long the road was out, how it was repaired, etc.
I apologize for the length of this, and that it sounds like an advertisement from the Rapollo Tourist Office, but I have become an Italianiphile (Lover of Italy)
(Feel free to share my E-mail with any non-commercial inquires)