Seven Swim Race

On the morning of August 22, the lakeside in Colico transforms into a bustling hub of activity as the 'Amici di Claudio' and the Spatangus team prepare the start line at Spiaggia La Breva. Swimmers from across the region gather here, many returning year after year, drawn by a local atmosphere that feels more like a community reunion than a race. The Seven Swim Race, set against the backdrop of the towering Monte Legnone, offers distances of 3.6 km, 1.8 km, and a 200m youth event, each designed to showcase the historic waters of the Upper Lake. For those seeking a mid-season challenge, the race arrives just two months after the nearby Nuota tra le Cantine in June, providing a distinct lake-swimming experience before the autumn cooling.

Historical currents and landmarks

As you push away from the shore, the water tells the story of centuries of strategic control. You are swimming in the shadow of the Fort Montecchio-Lusardi, a formidable structure built just before the First World War to command the passage of the Spluga and Maloja passes. Its original 149mm guns still stand as silent guardians over the lake. Further along the course, the landscape shifts toward the star-shaped ruins of Fort Fuentes, a 17th-century Spanish outpost that once dictated the movement of goods and soldiers across the Trivio di Fuentes. The history of this water is not just one of conflict; it is also one of resilience. The peninsula of the Piona Abbey, with its 7th-century roots, creates a sheltered, serene inlet that offers a stark contrast to the fortresses that once defined this borderland. If you look toward the shoreline, you might spot the traditional 'roccoli'—architectural tree structures built for bird trapping—that dot the hills near Piona, a unique sight rarely seen elsewhere. For many local swimmers, the race is also a nod to the Cistercian monks of the nearby abbey, who have distilled herbal elixirs like 'Gocce Imperiali' for centuries, providing a legendary, potent fuel that has sustained local generations long before the first buoys were ever set.