Festa ai Piani and Tavagnasco Race - Santa Maria Maddalena ai Piani

A race that made history

The Tavagnasco - Santa Maria Maddalena ai Piani race is much more than just a running competition: it is a piece of mountain sports history. First held in 1952, it boasts a continuity unmatched on the continent and is considered the longest-running mountain race in Europe, never interrupted in over seventy years, not even during the pandemic. Twice, in 2006 and 2018, it hosted the Italian Mountain Running Championship, confirming the prestige this climb has earned among specialists.

The course: practically a vertical kilometer

The route starts from the bridge over the Dora Baltea river, at an altitude of 286 meters, and climbs up to the Santa Maria Maddalena ai Piani sanctuary, at 1,337 meters, on a panoramic balcony overlooking the valley. It covers about 4.5 kilometers with over 1,050 meters of elevation gain, with an average gradient of around 20%: a continuous climb that enthusiasts describe as a true vertical kilometer. After a short initial stretch of asphalt, the race winds along mule tracks and paths through chestnut groves, steep meadows, beech forests, and spruce woods, up to the church that dominates the lower Dora Valley.

Festa ai Piani: sport becomes a village celebration

Surrounding the race, the small municipality of Tavagnasco, in the Province of Turin and in the heart of the Canavese, experiences a festive weekend. The Festa ai Piani is the classic summer event of the village: grilled meats, polenta and stew, musical moments with the Modern Fanfara, and DJ sets that liven up the night. It is the occasion when the community gathers, welcomes athletes and visitors, and celebrates a tradition passed down from generation to generation, in the shadow of Mount Mombarone.

Between Piedmont and the gateway to the Aosta Valley

Tavagnasco is located at the extreme north of Piedmont, the last Canavese municipality before the border with the Aosta Valley: a position that makes this event a meeting point between Alpine cultures and Piedmontese traditions. The event is organized by the Corsa ai Piani Committee with the collaboration of the Friends of Mombarone, and represents one of the most cherished events of the summer in the Ivrea Morainic Amphitheater.

Who is it for and why come

• For climbers and mountain running lovers who want to test themselves against a legendary ascent.
• For families and curious visitors looking for an authentic village festival, with good food and live music.
• For those who love Alpine panoramas: the arrival at the sanctuary offers a spectacular view over the Dora Baltea valley.