Gardalonga Rowing Regatta Launches on Lake Garda to Celebrate Local Tradition

Alto Garda, like the Canal Grande, Maderno like Venice, the bisse like gondolas: the sight of hundreds of rowing boats crossing the waves, colors and folklore in a scenery unique in the world. All this promises the Gardalonga, a major rowing regatta debuting on Sunday in Maderno with its first edition. It will be the Garda response to the Venetian Vogalonga (scheduled for May 13 in the city of San Marco), a spectacle combining sport, tourism, and love for the lake: over a 25-kilometer course, at least 500 participants are expected, aboard 150 rowing boats of all kinds. There will be characteristic bisse (introduced on the lake during the time of the Serenissima), but also canoes, dinghies, some gondolas, and various “walnut shells”: as long as they stay afloat and have oars. The only boats excluded are Olympic-style rowing shells: the English rowing method is banned, in homage to the Venetian rowing tradition on Garda.

Ideas and route of the regatta

The idea for this regatta came from a group of enthusiasts from Toscolano Maderno, led by Bruno Bignotti, who explains: “The Gardalonga will be the Garda answer to Venice’s major regattas, the Vogalonga and the Carnival race, which I participated in with my friends on our bisse. Rowing on the Canal Grande, among thousands of rowers, was unforgettable. That’s when we had the idea: let’s do something like that on our lake, with its stunning scenery and many rowing enthusiasts.” It will be more of a celebration than a race: open categories, anyone can participate. The only requirements are being over 16 years old and paying a contribution of 20,000 lire, payable to the Comunità del Garda in Gardone Riviera (phone 0365/290411) or to the Toscolano Maderno bisse group (0365/71220).

The route is challenging but spectacular: it starts from the port of Maderno on Sunday morning at 9:00, goes down towards Salò to Portese, circles around Isola del Garda, and then returns to Maderno. Total distance: 25 kilometers. “The more trained can do it in two or three hours,” predicts Bignotti. “Others can complete the route in about five hours, leisurely and calm. If the weather is bad, we will shorten the course, doing only Salò and back.” Enthusiasts have been waiting for nothing else.

Results and expectations

While awaiting the start of the “Bandiera del Lago” (the annual championship of the bisse) on June 9, the Gardalonga will serve as an initial preview of the rowing season. The idea has been so well received that registrations are pouring in, reaching a threshold of 500 rowers: groups will come from Cremona and Venice, Trentino and Mantua, from all over Lake Garda, from Sebino, and even abroad. Institutions applaud; there is patronage from the Comunità del Garda, Lega Bisse, the Montane Community of the Alto Garda Park, and the Province of Brescia. “On its first edition, Gardalonga is already large,” said the provincial tourism assessor, Ermes Buffoli. “The tradition of rowing on Garda is centuries-old, and this is also a beautiful way to live in harmony with nature. It is also an excellent promotional vehicle: combining sport and environment, in the image of Garda, opens great opportunities for our tourism.”