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THE “SETTE CAMPANILI” (SEVEN BELL TOWERS), AN ANCIENT TRADITION

The 105th anniversary of the “Sette Campanili” Cross Country race falls in 2019 and ZMC, together with other sponsors, contributes to keeping this ancient and prestigious sporting tradition alive.

The first edition of the competition dates back to 1914 and after more than a century the foot race continues to wind along the same 16-kilometer ring that touches the squares of 7 towns in the province of Varese: Cavaria (where ZMC is located), Premezzo, Santo Stefano, Oggiona, Jerago, Orago and Cajello. The route, in addition to the seven bell towers from which takes its name, touches various points of interest in the area, among which the two stairways made famous by the illustrated covers of some magazines stand out. In the past, the Cross Country of the “Sette Campanili” had national relevance, to the point of assigning the Italian Cross Country title on some occasions and of hosting internationally renowned athletes among the participants. In 1926 the popular weekly “La Domenica del Corriere” dedicated the cover to “Sette Campanili” and it was the famous illustrator Achille Beltrame who immortalized in one of his drawings the rise of the athletes along the stairs leading to the Church of Orago.

Nowadays the race remains an indispensable stop for the numerous Cross Country fans and every year it attracts various top-level athletes, a crowd of amateur runners and a large audience along the way.

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