How to get up to Montallegro above Rapallo: the cable car reopened in 2026, hours, the walking path, the road, the sanctuary's history and the festival.
Sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Montallegro above Rapallo
Altitude
612 metresabove central Rapallo
Cable car
running since 1934about 7 minutes per ride, reopened at Easter 2026 after works
Cable car hours 2026
daily 9:00–12:30 and 14:30–19:00wind and maintenance permitting
On foot
about 1 hour 30 uphill600 metres of ascent, 50 minutes down
By car
paved road of around ten kilometres
Festival
1–3 July in Rapalloclosing at the sanctuary the following Sunday
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montallegro is the place Rapallo’s people hold dearest and the best viewpoint over the Gulf of Tigullio. It stands 612 metres above Rapallo and there are three ways up: the historic cable car, the road or the old pilgrims’ mule track on foot. Here you’ll find the cable car’s status in 2026, the walking route, the sanctuary’s history and its link with the July festival.
By Italian Riviera editorial team·Updated on ·4 min read
The Rapallo–Montallegro cable car
Opened in 1934, it’s one of the few cable cars in Italy with a sea view: in about seven minutes it climbs almost 600 metres over olive groves and woods, with the gulf opening up below. Since 2006 it has been run by a private company on behalf of the town.
Status in 2026
The line reached its 40-year general overhaul. To keep it running, the town opted for a multi-year programme of works. The first phase was completed in early 2026 and, after the safety inspection, the cable car reopened on Easter Sunday 2026, running every day including holidays from 9:00 to 12:30 and from 14:30 to 19:00. Further works are planned over the coming years without stopping the service, but they depend on funding still to be secured.
In practice: the cable car works, but it can stop in strong wind or for legally required checks, and hours change between summer and winter. Call +39 0185 52341 or +39 0185 239017 before you go. Tickets cost a few euros, with a discounted return: check the current fare at the lower station.
Where it leaves from
The lower station is in the upper part of town, a few minutes’ walk from the railway station: follow the “Funivia” signs. At the top, a short climb leads to the sanctuary square.
On foot: the pilgrims' mule track
If your legs are up to it, walk up and ride down: it’s the best way to understand the place. The “salita del Pellegrino” starts at the church of San Bartolomeo in the Borzoli district and climbs on steps, lanes and a long paved stretch, lined with Stations of the Cross and rosary shrines. Waymarks are two red signs.
Length: about 4 km
Ascent: about 600 metres
Time: 1 hour 30 up, 50 minutes down
Difficulty: easy but steady; closed shoes, water, avoid the midday heat in summer
For a full day, continue from the sanctuary along the wooded ridge to Monte Pegge (774 metres) and loop back to Rapallo in about 4 hours. It’s a proper hike: check trail conditions, especially after rain.
By car and bus
A paved road of around ten kilometres, opened in 1932, climbs from town to the sanctuary. Parking at the top is limited and fills on feast days. Local buses also serve the sanctuary, with few runs: check times before you set off.
The sanctuary: history and what to see
According to tradition, on 2 July 1557 the Virgin appeared on the mountain to a farmer, Giovanni Chichizola, leaving him a small painted image and asking to be honoured there. The people of Rapallo built the first church in two years, between 1557 and 1559. It was enlarged in the 17th century; the current façade, in Lombard Gothic style, was completed in 1896. In 1942 the sanctuary became a minor basilica.
The icon from Ragusa
The high altar holds the icon, a Byzantine panel of about 18 centimetres showing the Dormition of the Virgin. In 1574 a ship from Ragusa, today’s Dubrovnik, escaped a storm and landed at Rapallo: its captain recognised the image as the one missing from his church, and a Genoese court gave it back to him. But, the story goes, the icon vanished from the ship and reappeared on the altar at Montallegro, where it has stayed. The captain’s silver votive plate is still in the sanctuary.
The votive offerings
The walls are covered with ex-votos: little paintings of shipwrecks, thanks for escaping plague and cholera, and gifts from illustrious visitors such as Queen Margherita of Savoy. Near the church there’s even a stuffed three-metre crocodile. Take your time: together they form an archive of seafaring life on the Tigullio.
The view
From the square and the paths around it you see the whole gulf: Rapallo and its marina below, Santa Margherita, the Portofino headland on one side and the coast to Sestri Levante on the other. Clear days in winter and spring are the best.
Montallegro and the July festival
Rapallo’s July festival, from 1 to 3 July, honours Our Lady of Montallegro. On 2 July, the anniversary of the apparition, a solemn Mass is held at the sanctuary; on 3 July the procession with the silver ark crosses the town and the evening ends with the “burning” of the castle on the sea. The following Sunday the community climbs to the sanctuary to renew a vow made during the plague of 1657. On those days the cable car and the road are busy: go early.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Montallegro
How long is the Rapallo cable car ride?
About seven minutes, climbing almost 600 metres from the upper part of Rapallo to a short walk from the sanctuary.
Is the Montallegro cable car open?
Yes: after the works it reopened at Easter 2026, daily 9:00–12:30 and 14:30–19:00. It can stop for wind or maintenance, so phone first.
Can you walk up to Montallegro?
Yes, on the mule track from San Bartolomeo in the Borzoli district: about 1 hour 30 uphill, 600 metres of ascent, easy but tiring in summer.
Is there parking at Montallegro?
Yes, at the end of the paved road, but spaces are limited. On feast days and spring weekends, take the cable car.
When is the feast of Our Lady of Montallegro?
From 1 to 3 July, with the main day on 2 July, the anniversary of the 1557 apparition.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Rapallo
All places to stay in Rapallo on Booking: compare prices and availability.
