Pisa Marathon

It’s pink, gentle and girlish. Cosy and patient for slow runners. Multi-distance, welcoming and Christmassy for running partners and family just enjoying a holiday.

Pisa has thousands of years of history. Founded during the Roman Empire its glorious period was between the twelfth and fourteenth century when the four Maritime Republics of Pisa, Amalfi, Genova and Venice had supremacy on the Mediterranean Sea. You breathe in the history just by walking through the city and getting lost in its streets. Crane your head up from narrow alleyways to see the old buildings or see them from the Arno riverside walk.

Pisa has an international airport within the town’s boundaries. There are many cheap flights to and from European hubs as it has long been a preferred destination for the main low-cost flight companies. You are bound to be able to find a convenient connection.

Pisa is also a strategic base for a winter break in Tuscany thanks to its central position. The railway station links to the main Italian cities and many historic sites such as Florence or Le Cinque Terre – both only an hour away. Rome is a three-hour trip.

2017 PisaMarathon will be the nineteenth edition and for the twentieth edition next year – the race is always held on the third Sunday of December – an epic celebration is being planned. Over the past 20 years the race has been consolidated through experience and the number of participants has grown constantly. It is the 700 volunteers that bring real value to the race, assisting runner by runner for six and a half hours at the start, at the refreshment points and at the finish.

In the days before the race visit the Marathon Village set up at the Pisa University Sports Centre just a short walk from the Pisa Walls which girdle the centre of the city. Museums offer a special rate for runners; the Blue Palace exhibitions change each year; the Christmas Concert is held in the Cathedral and shops are open until midnight the night before the race.

This is Pisa. Seize the chance to run the PisaMarathon and make sure you bring your family with you.