Maratona di Pisa

Location: Pisa
Country: Italy
Website: https://maratonadipisa.com/en/
2025 Marathon Date: 21/12/2025
2026 Marathon Date: TBC
Winning Time 2025: 2:12:25
% Sub-3s: 10-15% # Sub-3s: 100-200 Total Finishers: 1-3k

The Pisa Marathon (Maratona di Pisa) is an annual road race held in December in the historic Tuscan city of Pisa, Italy. Known for its flat, fast profile and striking finish, the marathon offers a rare blend of urban heritage, protected natural landscapes, and coastal scenery, making it attractive to both competitive runners and those seeking a memorable destination race.

The marathon takes place entirely within the municipality of Pisa and its surrounding coastal areas. The race traditionally starts near Piazza Daniele Manin, close to the race village and within walking distance of the Piazza del Duomo. From there, the course unfolds as a broad loop that showcases the city’s varied character. Runners first navigate historic streets in the city centre, passing architectural landmarks before crossing the Arno River and heading west toward open, greener terrain.

A defining section of the course is its passage through the San Rossore Natural Park, a protected area of woodland, meadows, and wetlands that provides a quiet contrast to the urban start. The route then reaches the Tyrrhenian Sea, skirting the coastal areas of Tirrenia and Marina di Pisa. These miles are among the most distinctive of the race, offering wide horizons, sea air, and long, straight stretches that encourage steady pacing. The return journey follows the Arno River back toward the city, gradually reintroducing urban surroundings as runners approach the finish.

The marathon concludes in one of the most iconic settings in world athletics: the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles). The finish line is set directly beneath the Leaning Tower of Pisa, within a UNESCO World Heritage site that also includes the cathedral, baptistery, and monumental cemetery. Few marathons offer such a visually striking and historically resonant conclusion.

In profile, the Pisa Marathon is widely regarded as fast and flat, with minimal elevation change across the full 42.195 km. This makes it suitable for runners aiming for personal bests while remaining accessible to a broad range of abilities. The course is fully paved and designed to allow consistent rhythm throughout.

The event has developed over more than two decades, evolving from a city-based race into one that deliberately integrates culture, nature, and coastline. It now includes both a full marathon and a half marathon, alongside shorter community events, and regularly attracts an international field of elite and amateur runners.

Held shortly before Christmas, the Pisa Marathon combines winter racing conditions with Mediterranean scenery, offering a distinctive end-of-year marathon experience rooted in history, landscape, and speed.