November featured events
 | Basilicata - The local running club organizes in Policoro, in the province of Matera, the Straherakleia Half Marathon. The town of Policoro is where the ruins of the ancient Greek colony of Herakleia are located: this was the city of Heracles, the divine hero in the Greek mythology. Called Hercules by the ancient Romans, he is famous for his strength and for his numerous legendary adventures (the so-called "Twelve Labours"). www.podisticapolicoro.org |
 | Campania - The Reggia-Reggia is a half marathon scheduled in Caserta. It starts from the Royal Palace ("Reggia"), the former residence built for the Bourbon kings of Naples. It was the largest palace and one of the largest buildings erected in Europe during the 18th century. Now designated a Unesco World Heritage site, the "Reggia" is also referred to as the "Italian Versailles". www.reggiareggia.it |
 | Emilia Romagna - The Maratona di Ravenna cittą d'arte will be held in Ravenna. Originally the capital city of the Western Roman Empire, then of the Kingdom of the Ostrogoths, then again of the Roman Byzantine Empire, and finally of the Kingdom of the Lombards, Ravenna is the location of eight Unesco World Heritage sites. Marathon, half marathon, 30k, 10k, and 5k the courses offered. www.maratonadiravenna.com |
 | Emilia Romagna - "Nothing speaks more of Romagna than this bread of ours... it is a symbol that speaks of devotion to our land" wrote the famous Italian poet Giovanni Pascoli and the Corsa della piadina romagnola in Russi, near Ravenna, is dedicated to the thin Italian flatbread typically prepared in this region. A package of piadine is the coveted prize for all participants to this 7k event. |
 | Friuli Venezia Giulia - The Fiera di San Carlo has been held in Aiello, near Udine, for more than two centuries. It is a religious festival in honor of Saint Charles, established when the town was still under the Austrian empire. Within the celebrations there are exhibitions, market stalls, contests, games and also the Marcia dal dindiat, a 12k or 7k fun run on a very panoramic course. The occasion is also ideal to visit the many sundials Ajello is famous for. www.prolocoaielloejoannis.webnode.it |
 | Lazio - With the start line located in San Peter's square, right in the heart of Vatican City (the independent city-state enclaved within the Italian capital), the Rome Half Marathon Via Pacis is a 13.1 miles run on a route inspired by the traditional "Pilgrimage of the seven churches" connecting the different places of worship (St. Peter, the Synagogue, the Mosque, the Valdese Church and the Orthodox Church) to bring a message of peace and solidarity against violence, racism, discrimination. Each participant will run with their own message of peace to be dropped, at the finish line, in transparent containers that symbolize the columns of peace: these will be later collected and published in a commemorative book. www.romahalfmarathon.org |
 | Liguria - The Trail Monte di Portofino will offer participants the possibility of running on the green pines rich mountains of the Regional Natural Park of Portofino (only fifty miles away from the world-renown Cinque Terre area). It is a gorgeous 26.2k trail. www.traildiportofino.it |
 | Lombardia - The Padenghe half marathon, scheduled in Padenghe sul Garda (Brescia), is a half marathon in the northern region of the Italian lakes. Padenghe and its medieval castle overlooking the southwest coast of Lake Garda, is located about half-way between Brescia and Verona, and between Venice and Milan, and it is ideal as a home-base for touristic excursions. www.padenghehalfmarathon.org |
 | Piemonte - Dubbed "the most panoramic course in Italy" the Lago Maggiore Marathon, scheduled in Verbania Pallanza (Verbano-Cusio-Ossola), features a half and a full marathon course. The lake itself is worth a trip: it is the second largest lake in Italy and its shoreline are divided between the Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy and the Swiss canton of Ticino. Around the lake are many gardens growing rare and exotic plants, such as the Borromean and Brissago islands gardens, that of the Villa Taranto in Verbania, and the Alpinia botanical garden above Stresa. www.lagomaggioremarathon.it |
 | Sicilia - The Maratona di Palermo will be held in Palermo, on the island of Sicily. Palermo was founded in 734 bC by the Phoenicians as Ziz ("flower"). Its strategic position in the middle of the Mediterranean brought waves of invaders including Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Saracen Arabs, Normans, Swabians, French and Spanish, resulting in a vast range of architectural styles, in a fusion of ingredients used in many local dishes, and in many place names which are obviously not of Italian origin. www.palermomaratona.it |
 | Sicilia - Running at the feet of the Etna volcano, the Sotto il vulcano trail in Calatabiano is faithful to its title, offering a 26k trail course with 1.2k elevation in the Etna and Alcantara Park. Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and is in an almost constant state of activity. The fertile volcanic soils support extensive agriculture, with vineyards and orchards spread across the lower slopes of the mountain and the broad plain of Catania to the south. Mount Etna has been designated a Decade Volcano by the United Nations, and is on the list of the Unesco World Heritage Sites. www.trailsiciliachallenge.it |
 | Toscana - The Eroica running will be held in Gaiole in Chianti, in the province of Siena. This is the foot version of the more famous cycling event held in the Chianti region. The run features six courses: 6k, 10k, 12k, a 21+21 relay, a marathon, and a 65k ultramarathon. http://running.eroica.it |
 | Toscana - The Trofeo fettunta will be held in Mezzomonte, a small town near Impruneta. This 18k and 6k race on the hills surrounding Firenze celebrates the "fettunta", a simple yet tasty slice of toasted bread with the newly pressed olive oil. This typical local winter snack it is offered at the refreshment points and at the finish line to all participants. www.smsmezzomonte.it |
 | Toscana - On December 8 Italy celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. One of the events traditionally organized on this holiday is the Corsa dell'olio in Reggello, on the hills around Firenze, to celebrate the pressing of the extravirgin olive oil. This 16.5k and 6k event is ideal to have fun, taste fresh green oil, and be rewarded with a 1-liter bottle of newly pressed olive oil at the end of the run. www.podistiresco.it |
 | Toscana - The course of the Firenze Marathon takes participants by all those landmarks of singular beauty that have made Florence famous worldwide: views over the enchanting hills and countryside, and passing right by the cathedral square, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio (to mention only just a few of historical importance), before entering the majestic Piazza Santa Croce. The road is entirely asphalted and ramp-free, except for the short, slightly sloping stretch of road at the start, and these characteristics make it a particularly fast route. www.firenzemarathon.it |
 | Toscana - The Val di Merse ultramarathon trail course winds through one of the most unexplored nature reserves of Tuscany. Available distances are 52k, 42k, 20k, and 10k, with courses open also to walkers. The 10k trail starts from Stigliano, while all the other distances will start from the Stadio di Rosia, in the city of Sovicille, and run to Siena. Val di Merse is situated at the outskirts of Siena and the forest is rich in biodiversity. www.sienamarathon.it |
 | Veneto - The Verona marathon will be held in Verona, one of the main tourist destinations in northern Italy, renown for its piazza delle Erbe and the opera sessions held in the Arena, an ancient amphitheatre built by the Romans (the course goes through it!). The city has been awarded World Heritage Site status by Unesco because of its urban structure and architecture. The event features 10k, half and a full marathon distances. www.veronarunmarathon.it |
 | Veneto - Runners passionate about war history should not miss the PerCorri l'Armistizio, a 3k, 5k, 10k, and 20k running event starting from Villa Giusti del Giardino, a villa in Mandria, outside of Padova, notable for being the former residence of King of Italy Vittorio Emanuele III, and site of the signing of the armistice that ended the First World War in 1918. The Armistice of Villa Giusti ended warfare between Italy and Austria-Hungary on the Italian Front during the First World War. In the room where the negotiations were conducted and the armistice was signed, the furniture remains just as it was on that day. www.usaclipadova.org |
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