Italian Paragliding Championship in Poggio Bustone

A Franciscan village turned free-flight capital

Perched on the southwestern slopes of the central Apennines, Poggio Bustone is famous throughout Italy for two reasons: the Sanctuary of San Giacomo, a stop on the Way of St. Francis, and its skies. Every year, thousands of paragliders take off from here, in the province of Rieti in the heart of Lazio, harnessing the thermals generated by the contrast between the mountains and the vast Rieti plain below. It is a rare aerological phenomenon, so reliable that it has led the town to host national championships, World Cup rounds, and even a world Superfinal.

The 2026 Italian Paragliding Championship

In June 2026, Mayor Rovero Mostarda announced a new Italian Paragliding Championship in Poggio Bustone as part of the town's major summer events: a high-level national sports competition that will, as per tradition, capitalize on the area's exceptional currents. At the time of the announcement, precise dates and regulations had not yet been released; the final calendar is usually published by free-flight federations and the organizing club just a few weeks before the event.

How a paragliding competition works

First-time visitors will discover a discipline that has little to do with recreational flying. Each race day features a task, an invisible course mapped out in the sky and defined each morning based on weather forecasts:

• Morning briefing at the airfield, covering the route and the virtual waypoints to reach;
• Ascent to the launch site on Monte Rosato, at about 1,200 meters, via shuttles organized by the local club;
• Launch window and mass start: dozens of wings climb together in the same thermal, forming characteristic spirals;
• Cross-country flight along the Apennine ridge, with glides that can exceed fifty kilometers;
• Landing and scoring at the large field in Località Pescatore, where GPS tracks are downloaded and ranked.

The public does not need tickets: you can watch from the village, from the scenic overlooks along the road to the sanctuary, or directly at the field, where the pilots' landing is the most photographed moment of the day.

A twenty-year tradition

Poggio Bustone's competitive history began with the Gianni Cerroni Trophy, a small local race that grew into an international-level event, and continues with the national championships hosted by the Municipality in collaboration with the AeroClub Prodelta, under the recognition of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. In May 2025, the town hosted the Italian leg of the Sport Racing Series with the Gin Edition Training Day: 129 pilots, including 15 women, arrived from over thirty countries, from Thailand to Taiwan, from Iceland to Brazil.

What to see beyond the sky

The race weekend is the perfect opportunity to discover the Holy Valley of Rieti, the circuit of four Franciscan sanctuaries, and the historic center of Poggio Bustone with its stone alleys. The local gastronomy is well worth a stop: the porchetta, celebrated in autumn by a popular festival, stringozzi pasta, Sabina legumes, and extra virgin olive oil from the Rieti hills. The town is also known as the birthplace of singer-songwriter Lucio Battisti, commemorated by a square and a dedicated trail.

Tips for spectators

Races are decided during the central hours of the day when thermals are strongest: the early afternoon is the best time to see the sky filled with wings. Bring binoculars, a hat, and comfortable shoes if you want to head up toward the launch, and remember that the landing field must always be kept clear for the pilots' arrival.