Swimming Under the Stars

A swimming crossing under the August sky

Swimming Under the Stars is one of the most beloved summer events on Lake Orta: a swimming crossing that takes place in Orta San Giulio, in the province of Novara, in the heart of Piedmont. Every year, on the night around August 13th, when the Cusio sky lights up with the Perseid meteor shower, dozens of swimmers gather on the shores of the lake to tackle the cool, crystal-clear waters surrounding the famous Island of San Giulio.

Three challenges for every level

The event features three distinct challenges, designed to accommodate athletes of all ages and experience levels:

• TUTOR Formula (400 meters): reserved for young people under 14, accompanied by a tutor in the water.
• Island Loop (1,400 meters): the flagship event, a complete circuit around the Island of San Giulio, reserved for those with a medical certificate of good health.
• Night Swim (400 meters): the evocative "shooting star hunting" challenge, which takes place after dark.

The start, finish, and transition area are located in the school courtyard, in Piazzetta Regazzoni, just a short walk from the pier and Piazza Motta.

Sport, nature, and solidarity

Swimming Under the Stars is much more than a sporting competition: born as the Luigi Stringara Memorial, it is organized by the Canottieri Lago d'Orta together with the Centro d'Incontro Legrese and ADMO Piemonte, the Bone Marrow Donor Association. Each edition is an opportunity to promote the culture of donation and provide participants with information on tissue typing. The event is part of the Nobile dei Laghi swimming crossing circuit, which brings together the main swimming events of the pre-Alpine lakes.

Orta San Giulio, jewel of the Cusio

The setting for the event is one of Italy's most beautiful villages: Orta San Giulio, overlooking the lake of the same name and dominated by the Sacro Monte, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Swimming at sunset around the Island of San Giulio, with its Romanesque basilica and Benedictine monastery emerging from the water, offers a unique experience where athletic effort blends with the magic of the Piedmontese landscape.