We will return to swimming in the lakes of Mantua. Not in the entire extent of Lake Superior but in some parts yes. The ordinance of the mayor of Mantua Mattia Palazzi has been made known which regulates bathing in Lake Superior in the territory of the Municipality of Mantua for the purposes of safety and security of bathers. During the bathing season, bathing and any sporting activity that involves immersion in water is permitted in the portion of Lake Superior adjacent to the stretch of right bank from the “Zanzara” kiosk to the “Che c’è c’è” kiosk and in the portion of Lake Superiore adjacent to the stretch of left bank in front of the Società Canottieri Mincio from the Ponte dei Mulini to the Cavo Parcarello canal. The water space expressly reserved for bathing, which in the 2024 bathing season allows bathers to access the lake safely, is made up of a small area with gravel sloping down towards the lake located in the portion in front of the right bank between the Zanzara kiosk and the pier existing and appropriately delimited in the water with yellow buoys.
So the mayor of Mantua Palazzi managed to bring the sea to Mantua. It was one of the promises made by the mayor to the people of Mantua during the last local elections. The Cremonese still have the dream of being able to do the same in the waters of the Po river, as happened fifty years ago. Look at Faliva’s photographs which demonstrate the attraction that the great river had. Just look at the bicycles and the large number of scooters and Vespas parked under the trees overlooking the beach: almost all of Cremona was there. “Our beaches back then – writes Giorgio Bonali – they certainly left the memory of the first falling in love, perhaps for the most admired girls who fascinated us collectively… We played with the ball in spaces that allowed us not to disturb the ladies sitting under the umbrella, attentive to the behavior of their children and above all daughters” “On the Cremonese side, in the area of the colonies and the campsite of in frieze alle oxbows, the so-called ‘riva dei bruti’ was frequented, that strip of sand between the river and the stagnant waters that emerged in times of dryness or alternatively the ‘brush’ . In these spaces, a motionless parade of men in swimming shorts seemed to develop, rigorously sunbathing standing up, watching the water flow. – says Giorgio Bonali again – There was also the long-awaited moment to throw oneself into the fresh water of the river, suitable for swimming at the time, which provided fresh fish suitable for frying, a pleasant alternative to the cured meats of snacks at ‘Burtùl'”.
But can the Po become swimmable again? According to Giorgio Albera, former president of the Regional Company of the ports of Cremona and Mantua from 1995 to 2005, yes. The problem is that in the last ten years the creation of a site for bathing in the river has been abandoned. “For 10 years Cremona has turned its back on the Po to which it owes its very existence: the Galimberti Council -Virgilio also gave up a possible bathing site on the Po – Giorgio Albera wrote to us – The story began in 2018 when Anna Barchiesi, head of the medical prevention department of ATS Valpadana, declared “For years, analyzes have told us that both in the province of CR and MN the quality of the relevant bathing water is poor.
However, given the tendency on the part of citizens to reclaim their territory by frequenting the shores of our lakes and RIVERS – continues Barchiesi – ATS Valpadana, adhering to a project coordinated by the Lombardy Region, has considered inserting for the next bathing season, on the ministerial Water portal , two “Study Points for Bathing” one in the CREMONA area and one in the Mantua area, in two coastal locations (Lake Superiore di Mantua – PO River in the Municipality of CREMONA) for the purposes of water classification”.
Result: while the Municipality of CREMONA IGNORE and REFUSES inexplicably this opportunity offered by ATS Valpadana, water monitoring activities began immediately in Mantua which, after 4 years as required by law, allowed the Mayor of Mantua in April 2023 to remove the ban on bathing in the lake after 45 years Sup of Mantua!
What an extraordinary result of environmental restoration to be able to return after half a century to bathe in the waters in front of your city!
A result that could also have been achieved for the waters of the Po in front of Cremona, given that in 2018 the quality of the waters in CR and MN was similar, if only the Galimberti-Virgilio council had not proved to be in default and had instead immediately activated, as Mantua did, a “bathing study point” on the Po river which in these 4 years would have provided precious data on the state of the river’s water quality
In recent years the quality of the water of the Po is constantly improving, as attested by the Milano Depur laboratory, manager of the Nosedo purifier, but this is also the belief of many Cremonese who frequent the Po that both by sight and by contact direct they rightly think that on many days of the year the Po is now suitable for swimming. Unfortunately, however, due to the disinterest in the Po of those who administered it, the data is missing to possibly remove the ban on bathing in the Po in front of Cremona.
In the photos of Faliva, the Pennello beach when the Po was bathable, Vespas and scooters parked and the works on Lake Mantua with the small pebbled beach where you can swim
