Maternum Marathon
The non-competitive walking event through the trails of ancient Maternum, in the Alta Tuscia region of Viterbo
About Maternum Marathon
A march named after a lost city
The Maternum Marathon is not a race: it is a non-competitive walk, and the difference is felt right from the start. The name recalls Maternum, the ancient Etruscan-Roman settlement that scholars believe stood in the area now occupied by the territory of Piansano, a small town in the Alta Tuscia region in the province of Viterbo, in northern Lazio. Walking here means crossing a landscape that is never just agricultural: every valley, every ditch, and every stretch of scrubland preserves something of that layered history.
Three routes, one spirit
The event is divided into three loop itineraries, marked with different colors, all starting and ending in the town:
- Yellow Route — 11 km: the shortest and most accessible, suitable for families, children, and first-time walkers.
- Green Route — 19 km: the intermediate distance, preferred by those who want a full day out without pushing too hard.
- Red Route — 39 km: the long loop, reserved for more trained walkers, with a track that changes from edition to edition and reaches the borders of the municipal territory.
Running is not allowed: the regulations explicitly forbid it. The Maternum Marathon is designed as a walking and nordic walking event, with poles allowed and dogs welcome as long as they are on a leash and under the owner's responsibility.
The landscape of Alta Tuscia
Piansano is located at an altitude of about 400 meters and about ten kilometers from Lake Bolsena: a position that offers, even in late June, cool mornings and wide panoramas. The tracks alternate between dirt roads, cart tracks through cultivated fields, stretches of woods, and the Sant'Anna nature trail, where three-dimensional animal reproductions accompany the walk and transform the route into an educational itinerary especially appreciated by children. The passage through the historic center, on the way out or back, reminds us that this is first and foremost a village festival.
Who organizes it
Behind the event is the Pro Loco of Piansano, supported by the Municipality of Piansano and the patronage of the neighboring towns of Valentano and Capodimonte. About a hundred organizers and volunteers work on the field: the Misericordia with doctors and nurses, the civil protection, monitors on bicycles along the tracks, and law enforcement at road crossings. It is this associative fabric, more than the numbers, that explains how a town of a few thousand inhabitants manages to handle up to 1,200 participants in a single day.
Refreshments and final lunch
Refreshment points are distributed along all the loops — six on the 39 km route, three on the 19 km, and two on the 11 km — offering water, fruit, and local products. The finish line is set at the municipal sports center in the Valle del Demonio area, where the day concludes with a communal lunch included in the registration fee. In the race pack, in addition to the technical shirt, there are local products: pecorino cheese and organic extra virgin olive oil from the Alta Tuscia.
A piece of the "120 miles in Tuscia"
The Maternum Marathon is part of the "120 miles in Tuscia" circuit, which brings together some of the main non-competitive walks in the province of Viterbo. For those who love this format, it is an opportunity to discover in a single season a territory that stretches from Lake Bolsena to the Cimini Mountains, walking instead of running and taking the time to look around.
Maternum Marathon — edition 2026
Maternum Marathon 2026: the fifth edition
On Sunday, June 14, 2026, Piansano hosted the fifth edition of the Maternum Marathon, organized by the Pro Loco of Piansano together with the Municipality and with the patronage of the towns of Valentano and Capodimonte. The formula remained the tried and tested one: non-competitive walking and nordic walking, no rankings, three loops of varying difficulty, and a single start time for everyone.
The long 39-kilometer route was revised compared to the previous year, while the 19 and 11-kilometer loops confirmed the most popular tracks, those crossing the Sant'Anna nature trail and the countryside around the town. Along the routes, six refreshment points were active on the red course, three on the green, and two on the yellow.
Assistance was guaranteed by the Misericordia with doctors and nurses, by the civil protection, and by local volunteers, with law enforcement at road crossings. The day concluded with the communal lunch at the Valle del Demonio sports center, included in the registration fee.
Programme Maternum Marathon 2026
Sunday, June 14, 2026
- 7:30 AM — Meeting point and single start for all routes from Via Umberto I, under the Civic Tower of Piansano.
- Yellow Route — 11 km: short loop, suitable for families and children, with 2 refreshment points.
- Green Route — 19 km: intermediate loop, with 3 refreshment points.
- Red Route — 39 km: long loop with a modified track for 2026, with 6 refreshment points.
- By 5:00 PM — Closing of arrivals at the municipal sports center in the Valle del Demonio area.
- Followed by — Final lunch for all participants at the municipal sports center.
Regulations: running is forbidden; dogs are allowed only on a leash and under the owner's responsibility; it is mandatory to respect traffic laws at crossings and not to start before the official time.
Highlights Maternum Marathon 2026
- Fifth edition of the event, with the 39 km route redesigned.
- Start at dawn under the Civic Tower, in the heart of Piansano's historic center.
- Crossing of the Sant'Anna nature trail, with three-dimensional animal reproductions.
- Maximum cap of 1,200 participants, reached with registration closing on June 7.
- Participation pack with local products: pecorino cheese and organic extra virgin olive oil from the Tuscia region.
- Communal final lunch included in the fee, at the Valle del Demonio sports center.
Prices Maternum Marathon 2026
Practical information — Maternum Marathon
How to get there
Piansano can be reached by car from the Via Cassia (SS2) taking the exit towards Tuscania-Valentano, or from Lake Bolsena passing through Capodimonte. The nearest train station is Viterbo (about 35 km), connected to Rome; from there, you can continue by car or by Cotral bus lines. The reference airport is Rome Fiumicino, about 120 km away.
Meeting point and start
Meeting point in Via Umberto I, under the Civic Tower, in the center of Piansano. Single start for all routes at 7:30 AM. Arrival at the municipal sports center in the Valle del Demonio area.
Registration and fee
The fee is 20 euros and includes a technical shirt, insurance, refreshments along the route, medical assistance, final lunch, and a participation pack. For children under 11, there is a reduced rate of 10 euros. Registration is available online on the official website or at authorized points in Piansano and the Runner shop in Viterbo. Maximum number of participants: 1,200, with registration closing one week before the event.
Tips
Trekking or trail shoes, a hat, and sunscreen are essential: a good part of the tracks is exposed. Nordic walking poles are allowed. Those tackling the 39 km loop must keep in mind that the finish line must be reached by 5:00 PM. For overnight stays, it is advisable to look at the local agritourisms or the facilities around Lake Bolsena, about twenty minutes away by car.
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Where does it take place — Maternum Marathon
Torre Civica, via Umberto I
Via Umberto I, 01010 Piansano