Palmaria Island Swim 2026

The 2026 edition of the Palmaria Island Swim features a 3500m open-water course situated off the coast of Portovenere, scheduled for May 24th. Swimmers navigate the waters surrounding this archipelago, where the maritime landscape is defined by the proximity of the Palmaria, Tino, and Tinetto islands. The route avoids the heavier commercial transit lanes, though participants must remain aware of the distinct currents circulating through the strait. The event, which has established itself as a technical challenge in the Ligurian calendar, requires careful pacing due to the variable conditions typical of the late spring season in this stretch of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Historical waters and local myth

Tracing the coastline provides a view of the military infrastructure that historically controlled this passage, including the decommissioned Fort Count of Cavour and the Umberto I ironclad tower, which once functioned as a military prison. The shoreline beneath the church of San Pietro is linked to the local tradition of Venus Ericina, with myths suggesting the goddess emerged from the sea foam found along these rocks. This same coast witnessed a notable defense in 1494 when local women, assisted by the corsair Jacopo Bardella, coated the rocks in tallow to neutralize an Aragonese landing force. Athletes often encounter the European leaf-toed gecko—the smallest of its kind on the continent—inhabiting the rocky outcrops, a species rarely seen elsewhere in the region.

Logistics for the day are managed to accommodate the specific maritime traffic of the gulf, ensuring clear lanes for the 3500m distance. For those seeking additional open-water events in the vicinity, the 42nd Coppa Byron follows later in the season, offering a distinct experience between Portovenere and Lerici. The environment remains anchored in its history, from the 801 arrival of the elephant Abu l-Abbas—a diplomatic gift from the Caliph to Charlemagne—to the 1516 shipwreck of a rhinoceros destined for Pope Leo X, an animal immortalized in Dürer’s woodcuts. The race route directly interacts with these historical landmarks while navigating the same waters that have defined the maritime history of the gulf for centuries.