Mercato Settimanale di Rapallo (Thursday Market)
Every Thursday morning the streets fanning out from Via Venezia fill with one of the liveliest weekly markets on the Riviera, drawing locals from across the Tigullio Gulf for fresh produce, Ligurian olive oils, cheap fashion and household goods. It's chaotic, colourful and completely authentic.
What to look for in the food stalls
The market's real soul is in its food section, where farmers from the Fontanabuona valley arrive early with baskets of pesto-ready Genovese basil, farinata flour, jars of trofie-friendly walnut sauce and the small, intensely sweet tomatoes that only seem to exist in Ligurian kitchen gardens.
Look out for stalls selling focaccia di Recco — the paper-thin, cheese-stuffed flatbread from the nearby town of Recco — still warm from portable ovens. Arrive before 10:00 if you want the best selection; locals know that the finest pieces disappear fast.
Beyond the food: fabric, flowers and bargains
Stretching along Via Venezia and spilling into the surrounding lanes, the non-food section sells everything from Ligurian lace and embroidered tablecloths to garden tools and rubber-soled boat shoes. It's a good place to pick up a cheap cotton scarf or a hand-painted ceramic dish as a souvenir that won't break the bank.
The flower stalls near the market's edge are worth a detour even if you're not buying — armfuls of locally grown carnations, mimosa (in season) and potted herbs perfume the whole street and make for vivid market photography.
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