Pietro Vassena: The Leonardo of Lake Como

Pietro Vassena: The Genius Who Walked on Water and Conquered the Depths

A true visionary and tireless inventor, Pietro Vassena was born in Malgrate on April 21, 1897. Even as a child, his mechanical genius was evident as he designed innovative tools for the workshops around Lecco. By the 1930s, Vassena was already decades ahead of his time, developing early outboard motors, motorized bicycles, and a primitive version of what we now call the jet-ski. During this era, he patented the revolutionary Skivass—a hybrid of a ski and a canoe designed for "walking" on water. In June 1963, Vassena famously used his Skivass to glide across the lake and welcome U.S. President John F. Kennedy during his historic visit to Bellagio.

Honorary Degree in Engineering

In 1940, despite his self-taught origins, Vassena was awarded an honorary degree in Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Milan. During the hardships of World War II, he addressed fuel shortages by designing a "gasogeno" engine powered by wood and charcoal—an invention that saw massive success in cars, trucks, and public transit across Italy. After the war, his focus shifted back to the water, where he perfected high-performance outboard motors and eventually transferred his patents to the prestigious Carniti Company in Oggiono.

The heroic adventure aboard the C3 Bathyscaphe

Vassena’s greatest triumph came on March 12, 1948, with the launch of the C3 Bathyscaphe. Off the shores of Argegno, alongside submariner Nino Turati, he plunged to the record-breaking depth of 412 meters (1,352 ft). At the time, no one in the world had ever reached such depths. Months later, he pushed the limit even further, reaching 700 meters (2,296 ft) off the coast of Ischia. Though his beloved submarine eventually sank during an unmanned test near Capri—a loss he felt deeply—Vassena’s legacy remained untarnished. By the time of his death in 1967, he held 33 patents, leaving behind the unfinished dream of a hydrogen-powered engine that would have surely changed the world.