Giro Isola Loreto

In 1497, Queen Caterina Cornaro arrived on the shores of Monte Isola, finding refuge within the walls of the Martinengo fortress. While her stay was brief, the island remains defined by the same rugged geography that sheltered her, a landscape today dominated by the sharp, limestone ridges of the Corna Trentapassi. Rising 1248 meters, these three peaks provide a jagged horizon for swimmers circling the nearby Loreto Island, their steep southern slopes plunging directly into the deep, dark water of Lake Iseo.

The water and the currents

The 1.8 km course around the private, neogothic silhouette of Loreto Island sits within a basin regulated by the Sarnico Dam. Constructed in 1933, this infrastructure governs the Oglio River outflow, maintaining stable levels that define the swimming conditions for local events. Swimmers often find the water to be a tactical challenge, where managing the subtle, regulated flow becomes as critical as the stroke technique itself. The lake’s temperature typically settles into a comfortable range by mid-June, though the depth surrounding the island can create pockets of cooler water that catch the unwary by surprise.

Life on the island

Beyond the buoy line, the culture of Monte Isola remains anchored to the lake. In Peschiera Maraglio, the centuries-old method of sun-drying perch and bleak on wooden frames is still a daily reality, a practice that mirrors the endurance required for the race itself. This event is a central fixture for those training for longer challenges, such as the XXVII Traversata Lago di Iseo held later in August, which offers a significantly longer route for those seeking to test their stamina over a 3.2 km distance. Whether passing the remnants of Roman villas on the western shore or observing the sanctuary at 600 meters above, the swim is a continuous encounter with a history that has never fully left the water.