4^ Miglio Marino La SECCA

The Ligurian Sea at Arenzano presents as a deep, cobalt basin where the seabed drops rapidly, creating a stark contrast with the steep, rugged slopes of the Beigua range. Swimming here feels like traversing a corridor between the high peaks of the Apennines, which soar over a thousand meters above the shoreline, and the rhythmic pulse of the open sea. The water behaves with the characteristic Mediterranean temperament, shaped by the proximity of the coast and the mountain winds that descend from the ridges, requiring a precise line to maintain efficiency.

As you move along the course, the landscape reveals layers of history embedded in the architecture visible from the water. To the east, the silhouette of the Santuario di Nostra Signora delle Olivete stands as a silent sentinel on a mid-slope ridge, providing a constant orientation point during the swim. Near the waterfront, the 16th-century Villa Negrotto Cambiaso commands attention with its dense parkland, where rare Lebanon cedars and Araucarias contrast against the saline air. This intersection of mountain and sea was once the site of the Battle of Voltri in 1796, where French forces under Jean-Baptiste Cervoni were pushed westward along this very coastline during the opening maneuvers of the Italian campaign.

The Miglio Marino La Secca, scheduled for June 13, 2026, celebrates this maritime identity with a classic 1852-meter course. The event is organized by the Comune di Arenzano, rooting the competition in the town's administrative and cultural heritage. Within the parish church of Santi Nazario e Celso, the history of the sea is further reflected in Ernesto Massiglio’s painting of the patron saints’ landing, a visual narrative of arrivals by water that predates the modern sporting tradition. After the race, the sagrato of the parish church offers a look at the 'risseu', the intricate black-and-white pebble mosaic craft that defines the religious architecture of the region. For those who enjoy the coastal character of this stretch of water, the season also features local opportunities like the Albissola Swim Games in May, which shares the same Ligurian current patterns.