Marathon de Venise

The Venice Marathon begins on the mainland at Villa Pisani in Stra and concludes beside the lagoon on the Riva dei Sette Martiri in Venice. This 42.195 km road race, held each October since 1986, holds a World Athletics Bronze Label. The inaugural event had 713 participants; recent editions have seen over 17,000 registered runners, positioning it as a significant international marathon alongside a large public running event. The route traces the Riviera del Brenta eastward through towns including Dolo, Mira, Oriago, and Malcontenta, before reaching Mestre and crossing approximately 2 km within Parco San Giuliano. Participants then cross the nearly 4 km Ponte della Libertà, the extensive bridge connecting the mainland to the Venetian islands, subsequently entering the port area for the final city-center segment. The concluding kilometers navigate the Giudecca Canal, Punta della Dogana, a temporary bridge over the Grand Canal, Piazza San Marco, and the Palazzo Ducale when tidal conditions permit. Venice's unique environment occasionally alters the plan: high water has necessitated route adjustments, and one damp edition saw participants running through ankle-deep water. A notable instance involved the leading group mistakenly following a motorcycle off course, leading to local runner Eyob Ghebrehiwet Faniel securing the win, the first Italian victory in 22 years.