Italy’s 10 biggest marathons

Running in Italy means moving through a country where the sport blends with art, light and history, without forgetting the food. From eternal capitals to seaside towns, from Tuscan countryside to modern cities, every marathon tells a story. Some pull huge fields; others keep it more intimate, but all of them have a strong identity.

1. Rome Marathon

✓ The imperial route

No other marathon can offer a backdrop like this. The Rome Marathon is an open-air historical film: Colosseum, Forum, Vatican, the Lungotevere, cobbled lanes, grand Roman piazzas… The course feels almost solemn, as if your legs are carrying more than just a bib number.

Find out whether Rome’s cobblestones really make the Rome Marathon tough. We break down the course of this legendary race.

In 2025, the capital went big with 28,000 entrants and 21,910 finishers, a record. Rome Running Week topped 50,000 participants, proof the city lives and breathes marathon week. With 127 nationalities represented, the maratona has become a near-global rendezvous. The course records are still stout: 2:06:24 for the men (Asbel Rutto in 2024), 2:22:52 for the women (Kebede Megertu Alemu in 2019). A race where history runs stride for stride with you.

2. Milan Marathon

✓ Modern speed

Milan owns its status as a fast, stylish metropolis. It’s a performance-friendly city thanks to an ultra-flat, super-runnable course, long straights, almost no traps, and spring weather that’s often kind. A start and finish on Piazza Duomo adds an elegant touch, almost like a running-fashion-week crossover.

In 2025, the Milan Marathon welcomed 10,250 entrants in the marathon, with more than 40,000 participants across the whole weekend (relay, family run, etc.). Organizers report a 56{929902e1ae24fbd41363c9a1c32dfbb627114431c099f6444c46d2492cf1e17f} international field, a rare balance for a European race. The records show just how scorching the route can be: 2:02:57 by Titus Ekiru, one of the fastest times ever run on Italian soil.

3. Florence Marathon

✓ Tuscan postcard vibes

Florence has a charm very few marathons can match. The race loops past the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Santa Croce, Palazzo Vecchio… It’s basically a timed guided tour. Between medieval alleys and Renaissance monuments, finishers often say it feels like running “inside a painting.”

Historically, the big editions have topped 10,000 entrants, and these days the race sits around 7,000 to 9,000 runners depending on the year. The women’s course record, set by Lonah Salpeter in 2:24:16, shows this is a serious route. Artistic, yes, but never at the expense of performance.

4. Venice Marathon

✓ Lagoon drama, theatrical finish

The Venice Marathon lives in a category of its own. The finale across floating walkways, laid down just for race day to cross the canals, defies logic. And the stretch over the Ponte della Libertà, with the lagoon stretching to the horizon, feels like flipping from mainland to postcard.

In 2025, organizers announced 17,000 entrants across all distances, a record. The full marathon typically lands around 5,000 to 6,000 finishers. The course records stay classy: 2:08:13 for the men, 2:23:37 for the women. A marathon where the visuals can matter almost as much as the clock.

5. Naples Marathon

✓ Southern energy

Naples has always been a city that stands out. Its marathon does too. The course hugs the bay with Vesuvius as a backdrop, rolls along the Lungomare, cuts through working-class neighborhoods, and serves up a few fast sections made for steady splits. The Neapolitan vibe brings a street-opera feel, right in the heart of Campania.

The Naples Marathon, now bearing the World Athletics Label, usually draws 2,500 to 4,000 marathoners depending on the edition, with a growing share of international runners thanks to the very fast profile of the coastal route. Benchmark winning times hover around 2:28 (women) and 2:10 (men). A race where southern passion makes up for everything, even the fatigue.

6. Turin Marathon

✓ Piedmont elegance

Back on November 23 this year, Tu r in offers a city marathon built around immaculate straightaways. The route threads the grand royal squares, slips under the arcades, heads out toward the Po River, then returns to the city center. A Piedmont race designed for fast running without ever leaving a majestic setting. And still underrated.

Depending on the year, participation ranges from 2,000 to 4,000 finishers. The old records are still impressive: 2:07:17 for the men, 2:26:22 for the women. An old-school marathon in the best sense of the word: crisp, smooth, straightforward, with that extra touch of elegance that makes the difference.

7. Pisa Marathon

✓ The tower as your prize

Set at the end of the year (December 21 in 2025), the Pisa Marathon serves up a flat course that runs from the city center to the coast and back, finishing in front of the famous Leaning Tower, arguably one of Europe’s most iconic finish lines. The final stretch often delivers stunning scenes: runners in tears, arms raised, families packed around Piazza dei Miracoli.

The race usually brings in 1,500 to 2,500 finishers, a much-loved mid-size format. Records sit around 2:09 (men) and 2:27 (women). Simple, beautiful, and effective.

8. Reggio Emilia Marathon

✓ A runner’s race for PRs

With its rural charm, the Reggio Emilia Marathon has built its reputation on rock-solid organization and a high-quality course. Clean, wide, fast, perfect for chasing a late-season time. Plenty of runners show up to bag a PR before the holidays.

Participation sits around 2,500 to 3,000 finishers. The records are solid, with the women’s course record at 2:28:03 and 2:12:26 on the men’s side. No frills, just brutally efficient.

9. Verona Marathon

✓ The Arena as the grand finale

Linking historic bridges, cobbled lanes and modern districts, Verona invites you to run through a gentle, romantic city. The finish near the Arena, the beautifully preserved Roman amphitheater, creates an almost theatrical atmosphere. The race drew 3,000 marathoners (12,000 total) just a few days ago. Benchmark times typically hover around 2:12 (men) and 2:28 (women). This year, Kenyan Samson Kipchirchir Keiyo won in 2:14:45, while Alessia Tuccitto took the women’s race in 2:37:41. A marathon that leans on emotion as much as consistency.

10. Palermo Marathon

✓ A vibrant Sicily

At the far southern end of the boot, Palermo puts on a marathon painted in southern colors: Arab-Norman palaces, sea air, the smell of local cooking, lively streets… It’s not the easiest course, but it has a soul like no other. Participation sits around 1,200 to 1,800 marathoners depending on the year. The best times are roughly 2:14 and 2:33. A race that breathes warmth, history and Sicilian character.

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