Palio Fiorentino

A race in the heart of Sesto Fiorentino

The Palio Fiorentino is one of the most awaited road races in the Tuscany autumn calendar. It takes place in Sesto Fiorentino, a populous town on the northern outskirts of Florence, and attracts hundreds of runners from across the region and beyond every year. The event is organized by G.S. Il Fiorino ASD, a historic local running club affiliated with FIDAL, which has managed the event since its inception in the early 2000s.

The course and the two races

The heart of the event is a 2,500-metre urban circuit winding through the streets of Sesto Fiorentino's centre, with the start and finish in Piazza Vittorio Veneto. The route passes through iconic city landmarks such as the market area, Piazza Spartaco Lavagnini, Viale Machiavelli, Via Gramsci, and Via Mazzini, forming a flat and fast loop that is particularly appreciated by those chasing a personal best.

The day is divided into two distinct parts:

• OPEN race reserved for UISP and EPS categories, scheduled for the morning;
• National road race over the 10 km distance (four laps of the circuit), on a FIDAL-certified course, open to all federal categories as well as RUNCARD holders.

For youth female categories, the distance is reduced to two laps of the circuit.

A staple of Tuscan running

More than just a competition, the Palio Fiorentino is a celebration of sport and community that brings the streets of Sesto Fiorentino to life for an entire morning, with the support of the municipal administration, which manages the necessary traffic diversions. Elite athletes and amateurs run side-by-side, cheered on by the enthusiastic crowds lining the circuit.

The national race features a prize pool for the top overall finishers and the best Italian athletes, as well as awards for the largest teams: an incentive that has helped raise the technical level of the event over the years, with the men's course record now dipping under thirty minutes.

Sesto Fiorentino, between Florence and the Apennines

Running the Palio Fiorentino is also a great opportunity to discover Sesto Fiorentino, a city known for its historic Richard-Ginori porcelain manufacturing and its proximity to the Scientific and Technological Campus of the University of Florence. Located just a few kilometres from the Tuscan capital, it is easily accessible and serves as a convenient base for those wishing to combine the race with a visit to the historic centre of Florence.