Corsa dei Santi

A popular celebration running through the heart of Rome

The Corsa dei Santi is the running event that transforms the historic center of Rome—in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital and the Lazio region—into a massive open-air race course every November 1st. The start is set in Piazza Pio XII, at the foot of Bernini's colonnade and just a few steps from St. Peter's Basilica: few Italian sporting events can boast such a backdrop at the first light of dawn.

Created to celebrate All Saints' Day as a popular festival, the event is organized by A.S.D. ACSI Italia Atletica under license from Prime Time Promotions and is broadcast live every year on Canale 5. The format is intentionally inclusive: alongside registered athletes competing for the clock, families, parish groups, associations, and casual enthusiasts join in to walk.

The route: ten kilometers of monuments

The classic course measures 10 kilometers and winds through the streets of the historic center, touching squares, churches, and palaces that tell centuries of Roman history. For runners, it is a unique way to traverse the city without traffic; for spectators, it is a spectacle that accompanies the holiday morning.

• Start and assembly: Piazza Pio XII, in front of St. Peter's
• Competitive race: 10 km, open to FIDAL-registered athletes, Sports Promotion Bodies, and RunCard holders
• Non-competitive race and walk: open to everyone, no medical certificate required
• Urban route completely closed to traffic

The spirit of solidarity

The Corsa dei Santi is more than just a race: every edition is linked to charitable projects that are presented and supported through registration fees and side initiatives. The Salesian educational footprint is evident from the start, resulting in an event that places the values of sport at the center as a tool for growth and inclusion. Celebrities from the worlds of entertainment and sport regularly participate to raise awareness for the supported causes.

An event in the Roman running calendar

The appointment is part of the capital's major road racing scene and is included in the city's running circuits. The number of entries is capped—in recent editions, the limit was set at 5,000 participants—and registrations close well in advance of the race date: those who wish to participate should start planning as early as the summer.

Why it's worth being there

Running or walking through a deserted Rome at dawn on All Saints' Day is an experience that goes beyond the finish time. November 1st is a public holiday throughout Italy, and the city lends itself to being experienced with unusual calm: the Corsa dei Santi has become its sporting symbol over the years, bringing together expert runners, visiting tourists, and Romans who take to the streets to cheer. It is an event that perfectly captures the relationship between the capital, its monumental heritage, and the popular dimension of the festival.