Annual Rome Marathon

The Annual Rome Marathon is upon us!

It’s that time of the year again and the Annual Rome Marathon is creeping up!  The Italia Marathon Club is organizing the next edition of the Maradona di Roma (Rome Marathon). The race is inserted in the IAAF calendar (International Association of Athletics Federations). In addition, on the AIMS calendar (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races). As well as the FIDAL calendar (Italian Athletics Federation).

In the past, the Annual Rome Marathon has also doubled as the Italian Marathon championships on two occasions; in 1983 and 1986. The race date was shifted from the traditional March schedule to 1 January in 2000 for a special edition of the event to celebrate the beginning of the new millennium, where the race start point was at Saint Peter’s Square.  Pope John Paul II delivered a short benediction in approval of the event and the Bells of Saint Peter’s replaced the usual starter’s pistol to signal the beginning of the race.

The History of the Annual Rome Marathon

From the early of the ‘900 to date in the streets and squares of the Eternal City have ventured some of the myths of running of all time. Dorando Pietri, that on 2 April 1906 triumphed at the finish line of marathon in Villa Borghese. Abebe Bikila, who barefoot won under the Arch of Constantine the Olympic marathon in 1960. Another legend is the Kenyan-Japanese Douglas Wakiihuri, who September 6, 1987 won the World Championship marathon in Rome.

While this year the Annual Rome Marathon takes competitors through some of the most historic parts of the Eternal City. Most of all, it includes Campidoglio – the citadel of the earliest Romans, Circo Massimo – an ancient Roman chariot racing stadium and mass entertainment venue, Terme di Caracalla – the second largest Roman public baths built in Rome between AD 212 and 217, and finally, the Pyramid Hestia –  built about 18 BC–12 BC as a tomb for Gaius Cestius, a magistrate and member of one of the four great religious corporations in Rome, the Septemviri Epulonum.

In conclusion, do you want to know more about the rules and regulations regarding taking part in or being a spectator at the Annual Rome Marathon?  Want to know where to stay, where to eat, which museums to catch, what to do, how to move around while enjoying your stay in the Eternal City?  Contact Us!  We are South Europe Travel, your expert European travel consultants and travel planners.