Nuotata Popolare

Father Francesco Coglio spent decades in a secluded cave beneath the chapel of the Madonna dell'Annuscazione in Brusimpiano, watching the waters of the Gulf of Agno change with the seasons. Looking out from his rocky vantage point, he would have seen the same expanse that today welcomes swimmers for the Nuotata Popolare, an event that traces a 1.4-kilometer line between the lido of Magliaso and the municipal park of Agno. The lake, often called Ceresio, carries a name as mysterious as the hermit’s own life; scholars still debate whether it derives from the Latin 'cerasa', hinting at cherry orchards, or the Celtic 'keresius', describing the complex, ramified geometry of the basin that swimmers navigate.

Beneath the surface

As you traverse the gulf, the water holds more than just the memories of historical figures like Garibaldi, who crossed these same shores in 1848 while fleeing toward the safety of the Swiss border. The lake floor is a transition zone; while the southern reaches are famous for the 240-million-year-old Triassic fossils of Monte San Giorgio, the shallower waters of the gulf teem with life. You are likely to share your lane with great crested grebes or common coots, while below, species like trout and pike navigate the environment alongside invasive gardon populations. The lake’s ecology remains sensitive, shaped significantly by the Melide bridge-dam, which separates the basins and alters the natural movement of fish.

This 1.4 km swim, held annually on the first of August, focuses on participation rather than competition. The organization by the municipalities of Agno and Magliaso ensures the safety of the field, with the local rescue society patrolling the route. While the history of the area is thick with stories of 20th-century smugglers and ancient Lombard knights resting in the nearby church, the primary focus for the swimmer is the rhythmic crossing of this glacial basin. Those seeking further challenges in the region might look toward the traversata on Lake Maggiore, which often aligns in the calendar, offering a different perspective on the alpine water experience. The event concludes in Agno, where the municipal park provides a quiet arrival point for those who have spent the morning tracing the same currents that once guided travelers to safety.