Liguria Vacation rentals Rapallo, Santa Margarita

[Dogma]

Hello everyone, we are looking for a 2 bedroom, would like 2 bathrooms, a view would be nice and take a 5lb poodle, TIA

 

[Pauline]

Have you found anything? In that area we always stay in Levanto, so I have no suggestions. We’ve stayed in a hotel in Santa Margarita. Lovely area.

 

[Dogma]

Hi Pauline, actually we did U turn. We got a house exchange. in Torino right on the Po River. My girl. friend. who I will be meeting in Nice has vacation rentals in Dana Point. So we. did this exchange. If u have any info on Torino! thanks

 

[Ian Sutton]

Hi Pauline, actually we did U turn. We got a house exchange. in Torino right on the Po River. My girl. friend. who I will be meeting in Nice has vacation rentals in Dana Point. So we. did this exchange. If u have any info on Torino! thanks

Hi Dogma
After maybe 12-14 visits to Torino, whilst it feels I still barely scratch the surface each time, I'm happy to share any insight that would be useful. Just shout if there's anything specific you're looking for.

A base on the Po River can be ideal, though it runs from North to south so does cover a lot of ground. Most of interest will be the west side of the river, but on the east bank there's the Gran Madre church (wedding scene in the original Italian job movie), the Museum of the Mountains in the nearby leafy / posh La Collina district. Also some decent restaurants, cafes and shops, and a relatively frequent sunday antiques market IIRC in front of the church.

For getting around, whilst walking allows you to see so much more, the transport system is a logistical marvel, albeit the map of it is intimidating / enthralling depending on your outlook. I love it. Worth scouting out convenient tram routes e.g. one that gets up to Piazza della Repubblica for the big daily market, or connecting to Porta Susa or Porta Nuova stations.

Meanwhile, navigation / getting your bearings is remarkably easy for an Italian city, as the centre (bordered by Corso Regina Margherita (N), Corso Vitt. Emanuele II (S), Corso Inghilterra (W) and the river Po itself to the east) is almost entirely a grid, with notable exceptions of via Pietro Micca and via Po.

It's also worth mentioning 'aperitivo hour' often c. 6:30-8pm give or take a half hour, where bars, some restaurants etc. put on a buffet of food, free to anyone buying a drink. Some of these represent super value, and the best use it as a showcase for the food, in order to tempt you into returning / staying for a meal.

The evening passeggiata has no specific area, with via Roma and the other main shopping streets popular, but perhaps the best spot is the pedestrianised via Garibaldi.

There are museums, from the prestige Museo Egizio, that got a much needed makeover a decade ago, to the more quirky e.g. Museo Pietro Micca, incorporating a walk through the counter-mining tunnels from when Napoleon took an interest in the city.

Other highlights include some truly historic cafes (Al bicerin my favourite on Piazza della consolata, a lovely opposite to the more ostentatious cafes nearer the centre), chocolate (so many good ones, but my favourite is Odilla on via Fratelli Carle # 38, it has a certain feel that I find hard to describe, but it feels like they warm to you as you spend time in the shop). However, those are *my* favourites, and you might prefer others, and it's well worth exploring the cafes and the chocolate shops.

Just shout if there are other aspects you'd like to find out about, especially if it involves 'grazing' the specialist food shops - definitely my specialist subject

 

[Dogma]

Thanks so much Ian, I have been reading some of your post and making notes!! The house we got is huge and right on the east river just west of the Parco Europa. I will have a car but mostly for coming. from Nice and side trips. My friend is an artist, so I know she will want to hit every art museum! LOL. Im sure u will hear from me again soon as I digest! Stephanie

 

[Ian Sutton]

Very nice location!