La Capitanio celebrates 100 years of history
The motor vessel La Capitanio, launched in 1926, has celebrated its 100th anniversary and still remains a symbol of lake navigation on Lake Iseo.
Originally built as a steamship, this beautiful vessel carried 130 passengers from one side of the lake to the other. It was an essential and widely used means of transportation before the advent of the automobile.
La Capitanio was built in 1926 for the Società di Navigazione a Vapore sul Lago d’Iseo at the Cerusa Shipyards in Voltri. From Genoa, it reached the lake through an extraordinary transport operation for that era. Five years after its launch, the steam engine was removed and replaced with a diesel engine manufactured by Franco Tosi of Legnano, officially transforming the vessel into a motor ship.
La Capitanio e Lovere
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During the Second World War, the vessel was machine-gunned in Sarnico during an air raid carried out by Allied Spitfires aiming to damage the nearby bridge. Following the attack, the ship caught fire and was temporarily taken out of service.
After this episode, the vessel was transferred to a shipyard in Lovere and later, in 1950, purchased by the company ITALSIDER. The steel company converted it into a tugboat used for towing barges carrying railway wagons from the Lovere plant to the Paratico terminal.
After being withdrawn from service, the vessel was purchased by several private owners who, with great passion, saved it from decommissioning. Through various refits, it was transformed for leisure use. Over time, the superstructures changed numerous times, even incorporating part of the tugboat Trieste, but the riveted steel hull has remained the same since 1926. Valuable documents relating to the ship’s design and launch were also discovered on board.
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motonave-la-capitanio-1926_interni
The ship’s name was chosen in honor of Blessed — later Saint — Bartolomea Capitanio (1807–1833), founder together with Vincenza Gerosa of the Congregation of the Sisters of Maria Bambina, also known as the Sisters of Charity of Saints Capitanio and Gerosa.
La Capitanio is recognized as a vessel of great historical value and has been awarded the ASI Gold Plate Number 1. ASI (Automotoclub Storico Italiano) is responsible for certifying the historical authenticity and heritage value of vehicles, allowing them to benefit from legal protections and special provisions.
This year, the vessel also received significant funding from FAI (Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano) for an extraordinary hull maintenance and preservation project. The association La Capitanio 1926 APS is not stopping there and plans to transform the vessel into a true floating museum.
La Capitanio (10)
La Capitanio (9)
The celebrations dedicated to the motor vessel took place on May 2 and 3 and represented a tribute to a symbol deeply rooted in the history and identity of Lake Iseo.
On May 2, the event opened with guided tours aboard La Capitanio, moored along Piazzale Marinai d’Italia in Lovere. In the afternoon, the conference “The Museums of the Lombard Lakes in the Centenary of La Capitanio: Past, Present and Future of Waterways” took place. The Accademia Tadini in Lovere hosted this important moment of discussion dedicated to the historical navigation of the Lombard lakes.
The Sala Affreschi of the Academy welcomed experts and institutional representatives for a dialogue focused on the preservation of nautical heritage and the cultural enhancement of Lombardy’s waterways, with the participation of authoritative figures from the museum world, FAI, ASI, and institutions connected to maritime culture.
From the historical role of the Navigli canals and the great lake routes to the preservation of nautical heritage and the contemporary vision of La Capitanio, the conference offered an authoritative perspective on how water history continues to interact with territory, tourism, and culture today.
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motonave-la-capitanio-1926_timone
Massimiliano Barro, President of the La Capitanio 1926 Association, emphasized how this anniversary was born from shared passion, memory, and commitment, representing a special opportunity to bring the community together, enhance nautical heritage, and look proudly toward the future. He added that this important milestone demonstrates how La Capitanio still remains a living part of local culture and collective memory.
The prestigious evening concluded with an elegant four-hand piano recital performed by maestros Carmine Colangeli and Francesco Quattrocchi in the evocative Concert Hall of the Accademia Tadini. The event beautifully combined music, history, and local identity, enhancing one of the region’s most significant cultural venues through an ideal dialogue between art and landscape. The musical program guided the audience through different eras, featuring a repertoire capable of evoking intimate atmospheres, narrative suggestions, and symbolic references to the theme of travel.
The Mayor of Lovere, Claudia Taccolini, highlighted the great significance of the centenary for Lovere and the entire Sebino area, underlining the strong bond between the community, navigation, and local traditions.
On Sunday, May 3, the celebrations continued on the lake with the vessel’s grand public appearance, starring in a parade along the waterfront accompanied by the boats of the historic Canottieri Sebino rowing club, followed by the solemn blessing of La Capitanio, a highly symbolic moment for the Sebino community.
One hundred years after its launch, La Capitanio continues to represent a living symbol of Lake Iseo, embodying the deep connection between history, community, and tradition, while looking toward the future of preserving nautical heritage.
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