Giro dell'Isola del Garda

In the early 20th century, Dante Alighieri captured the imagination of this basin by describing a precise point in the middle of the lake where the bishops of Trento, Brescia, and Verona could meet without crossing boundaries. As you prepare for the start at Baia del Vento, you are positioning yourself at the heart of this ancient convergence, an area where the water shifts significantly depending on the time of day. Before the midday mark, the Pelèr wind pushes from the north, creating a surface texture that demands focus; by the afternoon, the funnel shape of the valley encourages the Ora breeze to build, transforming the lake surface into a steady, rhythmic series of small swells.

The depths and the ruins

As you swim the 6km loop, you will pass the Isola del Garda, a site known in Roman times as the Insula Cranie. Excavations have revealed over 130 Gallo-Roman tombstones here, marking the island as a significant sacred space. Beneath your line of sight, the environment is equally distinct. This is the exclusive territory of the carpione, a rare salmonid fish that thrives only in these depths. While you are unlikely to encounter them during the race—as they typically dwell between 100 and 200 meters deep near underwater springs—their presence underscores the unique biological character of this basin, which distinguishes it from other regional competitions like the annualfondo in the Gulf of Salò held earlier in June.

Race day logistics

Organized annually by the Polisportiva San Felice del Benaco, the event offers both a 2km and a 6km distance. The 6km course is a full circuit, taking you clockwise around the island before returning to the Baia del Vento and concluding at the Port of Portese. If you find yourself in the area during a period of low rainfall, you might spot the submerged path toward the Isola di San Biagio; though usually underwater, in years of extreme drought, this natural land bridge emerges. The registration fee reflects the complex logistics of managing a multi-point course that requires boat support and coordination with local maritime traffic. Whether you are aiming for the long loop or the 2km sprint, the experience remains defined by the intersection of the island's burial history and the deep, cold currents that define this section of the Garda.