Rome Marathon

Rome Marathon: run through 3,000 years of history!

Spanning 400 different eras, the Rome Marathon is a springboard into the richness of the Eternal City. But the Rome Marathon hasn’t always won everyone over—far from it. Created in 1982, it struggled to stay afloat with just a handful of participants. In the 1990s, two editions even had to be cancelled due to poor organization and a shortage of bibs at the start line. It wasn’t until 1995 that the Rome Marathon managed to deliver an edition worthy of the name.

For the 2000 edition, Italians went big! At the start, on January 1st—just the thing to kick off the year—thousands of runners in St. Peter’s Square in front of the Vatican. To give the starting signal, none other than Pope John Paul II himself. The capital’s residents are used to editions packed with original anecdotes! In 1960, when the marathon didn’t yet exist, the 42.195 km distance was planned as an event at the Olympic Games.

The big winner of that edition, Abebe Bikila, would take the gold medal in 2:15:17—running barefoot! The Rome Marathon is also, and above all, an impressive course that reveals the city from a sporting perspective. The capital, which has lived through many eras and changes, now brings together nearly 400 sites from completely different periods. Even on the route alone, sharp-eyed runners will be able to take in totally different worlds. For example, along the 42 km, there’s the Vatican. This must-see place in Rome is home to several monuments, some dating back to the early Christian era, but most of its current buildings date from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Circus Maximus, belongs to Ancient Rome. As for Castel Sant’Angelo it was transformed into a fortress and papal residence in the Middle Ages.

On similarly varied ground—with 175 m of elevation gain and 6 km of cobblestones—the Rome Marathon remains an iconic event on a runner’s calendar. On the same dates, the organization offers a 5 km FunRun, focused mainly around Circus Maximus. This distance allows athletes of more ability levels to come and take part.