Parma Marathon

The marathon of Parma's heart

The Parma Marathon is the most important running event in the Municipality of Parma and one of the most beloved road running events in Emilia-Romagna. Organized by the association Parmarathon ASD, it attracts thousands of athletes to the ducal city every mid-October — in the 2025 edition, there were about 4,000 participants across the various distances — who come from all over Italy and abroad to run along a course that crosses the historic center, tree-lined avenues, and city parks.

A unique loop course

The marathon course is a unique loop, certified and approved by FIDAL, with start and finish at the same point: the Parco della Cittadella, the historic public park enclosed by the Farnese fortress walls, on Via Passo Buole. The overall elevation gain is modest, about 130 meters, and refreshment points are distributed along the entire loop at kilometers 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40. The race is a true journey into the heart of the city, between art and passion, discovering Parma's iconic places.

Five distances for everyone

The strength of the Parma Marathon is its variety: the event offers five distances designed to welcome competitive runners and amateurs, families, and walkers.

• Marathon — the 42.195 km of the queen distance;
• Trenta2 — the long half-distance of 32 km;
• Venti4 — the intermediate course of 24 km;
• La Vigorosa — the 10 km competitive race;
• DesmÌla — the 10 km non-competitive race, open to all.

In addition, there is the Food Valley Walk, a gastronomic walk of about 5 km that crosses the historic center with tasting stops for typical local products: a convivial way to experience the day even for those who don't run, and a tribute to Parma's vocation as the Italian capital of good food.

A weekend of sport in the heart of Emilia-Romagna

The Parma Marathon is not just a race: it's a weekend of celebration that enlivens the Parco della Cittadella with the Expo Village, an exhibition and bib collection area, and with the Parma Marathon Kids dedicated to the little ones. The event, which will reach its tenth anniversary in 2026, has now established itself as a sporting and tourist showcase for the city and the entire Province of Parma, in a region, Emilia-Romagna, where the culture of running and food meet perfectly.