In the bay along the Lungomare, next to the Castello, an informal grouping of stone sculptures has sprung up.  They add zest to a visit to town because the display changes with every tide.

I asked who was responsible, but my sources would only say, ‘un marinaio,’ that is, a seaman.  There is a club of such who hang out right near the exhibit, so I expect it’s one (or more?) of them.

The sculptures are delicate, amusing and temporary – performance art at its best.  Thank you, Il Marinaio, for livening up greater downtown Rapallo.  Here are some more shots of the sculptures as they were several days ago:

(This one I found particularly amusing for its obvious reference to fishing.)

I’m not sure how these two remained upright for as long as they did.  Superb balance, I guess.

While art above the waves is accessible to all, that below the waves is harder to visit.  Underwater sculpture, mostly of a religious nature, is a common theme along the Riviera.  At San Frutuoso you can find (if you’re lucky) the submerged Cristo degli Abissi:

Photo courtesy of Francesca at scubakix.blogspot.com

In Zoagli, a bit to the south, the 1997 sculpture Madonna del Mare, made by artist Marian Hastianatte, is resting nine meters down:

Photo courtesy of http://www.commune.zoagli,ge.it

Not all the underwater art here is, or has been, sacred. On the first day of summer, 2008, local artist Rick Gush submerged  Rapmaster Pinocchio in the waters off San Michele, between Rapallo and Santa Margherita. Because the sculpture was an outlaw, it did not remain long; like the cairns of Il Maranaio, it was fleeting, and all the more interesting for that.

Photo courtesy of rickgush.it

If you are particularly interested in underwater sculpture, you can see some more of it here and here. If not, I’ll meet you on the Lungomare, we can get an ice cream at Fridgedarium, and admire the evolving work of Il Maranaio.