54ª Traversata del Lago di Viverone

In 1391, the shores of this basin witnessed the brutal passage of the mercenary condottiero Facino Cane, whose raids were part of the volatile power struggle between the Visconti family and the House of Savoy-Acaia. Today, the water that once mirrored those shifting alliances offers a far more peaceful setting for the 54th Traversata del Lago di Viverone. As you swim the 3750-meter course, you move through a landscape defined by the Ivrea Morainic Amphitheatre, a glacial formation that gives the basin its distinct, contained character.

The path across the water

The swim begins at the tourist pier of Anzasco, launching you into an environment shaped by deep geological time. Reaching depths of 50 meters, the water here holds traces of a more recent industrial past; between the 1950s and 1970s, the lake was integrated into a hydroelectric pump-storage system, linked by pipeline to the nearby Lake Bertignano. From your low vantage point in the water, you may catch sight of the large cylindrical metal storage tank still standing on the hills, a stark relic of that mid-century engineering. Along the eastern slopes, the 14th-century Roppolo Castle provides a constant visual reference, standing as a sentinel over the route toward the finish line at the beach of Ristorante dei Pescatori.

Race day and surroundings

This annual event, organized by ASD Lago di Viverone, invites swimmers to test their pace over a course that typically requires 40 minutes to complete, with a generous time limit of 2 hours and 30 minutes. The entry fee of 40 EUR covers the logistics of a point-to-point crossing and the race pack. As you navigate towards Masseria, your path passes near the site of an ancient 9th-century Benedictine monastery dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, a place so central to the local identity that the water was historically referred to as Lago di San Martino. While this August date is a highlight for many, those looking for earlier season events might consider the M Swim Challenge in Piverone, which takes place in June, offering a different pacing just weeks before the main summer traversata. During the final stretch, keep an eye on the reeds and open water where local birdlife, such as mallards and grebes, are frequently observed by the researchers from the 'Società del Tarabuso'.