The Carlo Riva Port of Rapallo: story of a rebirth

So the first marina in Italy, in Rapallo, lives again today in all its glory

How a massive redevelopment and modernization effort has returned the Carlo Riva Harbor to Rapallo 50 years after its founding. Modern and functional.

“Build a port with the same attention to detail with which you build a classy boat,” with these words engineer Carlo Riva, who in 1954 had started Cantiere Riva in Sarnico, entrusted the builders with the design of the first marina in Italy: what we know today as Porto Carlo Riva in Rapallo (GE). It was 1971, and following the example of the Port of Cannes, wanted by his friend Pierre Canto (the French landing is also still named after him today), Riva wanted to bring to Italy-in the Tigullio region-the example of the French Riviera. It was not until 1975 that the Carlo Riva Port was inaugurated, and today it lives again thanks to the ambitious project coordinated by the real estate redevelopment company Bizzi & Partners and supervised by architect Susanna Scarabicchi of Studio Tectoo, with construction entrusted to Savarese Costruzioni and Sales.

Carlo Riva. Rebirth after destruction

After years scarred by the devastation caused by the October 2018 storm surge, Rapallo ‘s marina has come back to life thanks to a reconstruction that has not only restored the harbor, but brought it to new levels of excellence, safety, and innovation. The Carlo Riva Port, originally opened in 1975 and a true symbol of the Tigullio, is now a state-of-the-art marina that stands as a reference for recreational boating in Liguria and the Mediterranean. The port’s rebirth was made possible thanks to the impressive project managed by Bizzi & Partners Group, which took on an unprecedented challenge: rebuilding and upgrading the infrastructure, defending the port and the city from future extreme weather events. The new Carlo Riva Harbor is protected by a state-of-the-art barrier composed of as many as 1,600 tetrapods of 20 tons each and 170,000 tons of reefs, topped by a monumental 7-meter-high wave wall above sea level. A structure designed to withstand the challenges of climate change and well above legal standards, confirming the forward-looking vision of the investors and designers.

The details of the project

Safety and technology are the pillars on which the new marina is built. The project includes a total makeover of the piers and shoreline works, with a range of services designed to meet the needs of boat owners and crew, from charging stations for electric cars and boats to free Wi-Fi, via restaurants, bars, clothing and equipment stores, conciergerie, yacht services and security guards. The intent of the project is to create a space that is accessible to all and open to the city as much as to the boats, which is why a panoramic Club House will also be built with open windows overlooking Rapallo and the sea. In terms of onshore logistics, the large underground parking lot has been revised, with an easier entrance and exit for cars and a direct connection, via stairs and elevator, to the commercial promenade. The port, which has 253 berths from 7.5 to 60 meters in length and draughts up to 5.50 meters, has been downsized from the original facility to ensure higher quality standards and more efficient management. The central location in the Gulf of Tigullio offers shipowners the possibility of landing at a strategic base to reach Portofino, Cinque Terre, Corsica and Sardinia, with maximum convenience. Particular attention, throughout the project, has been paid to environmental sustainability, including in the choice of materials and green solutions adopted throughout the facility, in line with the new demands of boating and the growing sensitivity to the protection of the marine ecosystem.

Carlo Riva Port of Rapallo at the center of the Mediterranean

The Carlo Riva Port is not only a landing place, but also an important economic driver for the city of Rapallo and the Tigullio region: the new structure has led to the creation of more than 200 new jobs and has already begun to attract prestigious commercial activities in the nautical sector, as well as encouraging food and delivery services directly on board. The new marina thus represents a model of development and rebirth that combines past and future: historical memory of a locality dear to sea enthusiasts, the cradle of Italian pleasure boating, and a modern project capable of facing the new challenges of tourist ports. After the suffering of the sea storm, Rapallo has regained its vocation as the boating capital of the Tigullio, and the Carlo Riva Port is once again ready to welcome shipowners and yachts from all over the Mediterranean, offering not only safety and modernity, but also that unique atmosphere that has always linked the Ligurian town to the world of sailing and the sea. Today, more than ever, the Port of Rapallo is a symbol of rebirth and pride for all those who love and experience boating.

www.portocarloriva.it