RAPALLO

city, Genova provincia, Liguria regione, northwestern Italy, on the Levante Riviera at the head of Rapallo Gulf, southeast of Genoa. First mentioned in 964, Rapallo was sacked successively by the Lombards, Normans, and Swiss. It was the site of the Allied Conference of Rapallo in 1917, and treaties establishing friendly relations between Italy and Yugoslavia (1920) and the Soviet Union and Germany (1922) were signed there. It became a city in 1956. There is a 15th-century castle and a 12th-century church, and the nearby sanctuary of Montallegro (1557) is notable. Rapallo is a thriving resort known for its mild climate and fine hotels. Although tourism is the principal economic activity, pillow lace, olive oil, textiles, cement, and special steels are manufactured. Pop. (1991 prelim.) mun., 27,073.