Sporting Events

THE VENICE MARATHON

Starting in Stra, opposite Villa Pisani, this race develops along the course of Riviera del Brenta and ends in Venice, making it Italy’s most spectacular marathon. The Venice Marathon is a long-distance running event (42,195 Km) that has been recognised by IAAF and has been certified with a Bronze Label. It is run on a course that is unique in its kind, where each bit is rich in charm and beauty, from the starting point at Villa Pisani, to the Riviera and its Villas and the ending point in Venice through Barche Bridge, St. Mark’s Square, the Campanile and Palazzo Ducale. Venicemarathon is a race that, after all these years, still exerts a pull on athletes and spectators alike thanks to the many benefits that it offers. The race consists of also smaller events such as the Family Run, a non-competitive race that is organised by Venice’s towns and gathers together young children, family, but also sports enthusiasts who want to enjoy a walk through history and culture. It is indeed an event that welcomes all ages and people from across the globe.

DGI’S HALF MARATHON

They say of the Dogi’s Half Marathon that its charm lies in its unique course that changes every year. This half marathon has been held in spring since the second half of the 20th century and covers 21,097 kilometres. Every year on the first Sunday of April, thousands of athletes get together and follow its ellipse-shaped course to run along the river Naviglio del Brenta. The uniqueness of this unmissable event is also that it develops along 19 villas, a true treasure of the Land of the Dogi. “A run through history and nature”, claims one of the Dogi’s Half Marathon slogans, and there most certainly couldn’t be a more accurate way to describe it. Set over a flat course, the race cut through four of Venice’s Comuni: Mira, Dolo, Fiesso d’Artico and Stra. Its itinerary has always a different start and end which gives the impression that it is always a new and evocative run.

THE MARCH OF THE SAMATIANS

Sarmati’s March takes place every year on the second Sunday of June; it starts in Stra before heading to Vigonovo and through the parks of some of the most famous villas of Riviera del Brenta One of its most distinctive features is that it cuts through five parks of historical villas: Villa Pisani, Villa Foscarini Rossi, Villa Loredan, Villa de Lazara Pisani – La Barbariga and Villa Sagredo. That is not its only peculiarity as it courses through Saramazza Park, the Idrovia, Villa Vecchio Platano, Brenta, Piovego, Naviglio and Tergola. Runners will have the chance to meet actors dressed up in traditional Venetian costumes in the Villas’ parks and to take part in a true treasure hunt. Participants can win points by playing the several games of the “Sarma Color Game” and, after each of them, they will collect the trading cards necessary to win the game. The games consist of obstacle courses and activities with colourful dusts.