Romito Trail

A trail starting from a UNESCO monument

The Romito Trail is a nature running race that every summer transforms Padula, in the deepest part of the Salerno province, into a landmark for trail running in Campania. Traditionally, the start and finish lines are set at the Certosa di San Lorenzo: the vast monastic complex, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998, provides a rare monumental backdrop for a sporting event, linking athletic effort to the discovery of the heritage of inland Campania from the very start.

The routes

In recent editions, the technical programme has featured two competitive races plus a walk open to everyone:

• Long course: approximately 30 km with a positive elevation gain between 1,500 and 1,600 metres, the event's flagship race;
• Short course: approximately 18 km with a positive elevation gain of 850-900 metres;
• Non-competitive trek of 7 km at a free pace, highly appreciated by families and walkers.

The trails quickly leave the valley floor and climb towards the territory's iconic sites: the Madonna del Romito path, which gives the race its name, the remains of the ancient Cosilinum, and the Campolongo plateau, winding through woods, clearings, and panoramas that embrace the entire Vallo di Diano.

Organisers

The event is promoted by Nicola Tierno with the ASD Metalfer Podistica Brienza 2000, in collaboration with local associations such as ASD Crazy Bike and ASD La Vita è un Ciclo, and with the support of the municipal administration, represented at the awards ceremony by Mayor Michela Cimino and Councillor Giuseppe Tierno. The 2025 edition, the fifth, attracted over two hundred athletes from several European countries: a number that, for a village race, speaks volumes about how effective word-of-mouth among trail runners has been.

The Padula stone medal

The detail that identifies the Romito Trail more than any other is the award given to all participants: a medal crafted from Padula stone, the material used to build the village houses and much of the Certosa. Not just any gadget, but an object that allows you to take home a piece of the territory, which has become a small cult item among runners in the South over the years.

Sport, nature, and community

Behind the race lies a simple idea: using running to bring life back to trails that might otherwise be forgotten. The weeks leading up to the event are dedicated to cleaning and marking the paths, and on race day, the village mobilises with volunteers, refreshment stations, and support points. The result is a day that combines true competition — the long course is demanding and requires proper preparation — with a popular, family-friendly dimension where the 7-kilometre trek is just as valued as the podium.

The 2026 edition

At the moment, the organisers have not yet released the official date or the regulations for the 2026 edition. In past seasons, the event has taken place between the end of August and the beginning of September, when the heat of the Vallo di Diano begins to ease. It is therefore advisable to follow the ASD Metalfer Podistica Brienza 2000 channels and write to [email protected] to be notified about the opening of registrations, fees, and start times.

Padula, the Certosa, and the Vallo di Diano

Padula is a municipality in the Campania Region overlooking the Vallo di Diano, the large plain enclosed between the Cilento and Lucanian mountains. Its Certosa di San Lorenzo, founded in 1306 by Tommaso Sanseverino, is one of the largest in Europe and remains the monument that defines the village's identity; surrounding it are the historic centre clinging to the hill, the paths towards the sanctuary of the Madonna del Romito, and an intact agricultural landscape. Running the Romito Trail means crossing all of this in a few hours, with the silhouette of the Certosa reappearing on the horizon to remind you where you will return to cross the finish line.