13ª Nuotata sotto le Stelle — Orta San Giulio

Legend speaks of Saint Julius of Novara who, in the 4th century, crossed the waters of this lake on his cloak to reach the island and establish its first church. He found the site considered abandoned, a place apart, far from the mainland. Today, as you stand on the stone quay of Piazza Motta in Orta San Giulio, the distance to that same island remains a test of rhythm and orientation, just as it was when the site served as a defensive stronghold. During the 962 siege, Queen Willa fortified the land with massive walls to protect the island against Otto II, marking the water as a space where history was written in stone and conflict.

The water and the view

As you swim, the landscape shifts with every stroke. You look up to see the Sacro Monte di Orta climbing the eastern hill, its devotional chapels nestled within dense forest. The path of your swim takes you past the island, which since 1976 has housed the Mater Ecclesiae Abbey. Here, a community of Benedictine nuns continues the tradition of restoring antique items and writing icons, their presence providing a quiet, disciplined contrast to the exertion of the race. You might catch a glimpse of the Moorish-style tower of Villa Crespi, a 19th-century landmark that breaks the horizon line, or notice the distant, tilted silhouette of the bell tower of Carcegna, an architectural anomaly built with an inclined axis to manage its weight on the steep terrain.

Race day logistics

This event, now in its 13th year, takes place on August 13, 2026. The 1400m course circles the island, while the 400m option focuses on the immediate waters off the piazza. The schedule is precise: the longer distance begins at 19:30, followed by the shorter swim at 22:00. This late-evening start is designed to navigate the quietest hours of the lake, avoiding the daytime traffic of local ferries and leisure boats. Swimmers interested in the broader season might look toward L'antica Via del Legname, which takes place in late June, offering a different environmental challenge in the same region. The race is organized by Nobile dei Laghi, and the registration process includes a race pack for all participants. The conditions of the lake remain consistent during this mid-August window, typically providing a calm surface that allows for clear navigation between the buoys as you head back toward the lights reflecting off the water in the piazza.