Three Municipalities Road Race

A race through the most beautiful villages in Abruzzo

The Three Municipalities Road Race is a classic of Abruzzo running that attracts hundreds of runners every summer to the Altopiani Maggiori d'Abruzzo. The event, reaching its twentieth edition in 2026, ideally unites the three mountain towns of Pescocostanzo, Rivisondoli, and Roccaraso, all in the province of L'Aquila, with a 15-kilometer course winding between 1,200 and 1,400 meters in altitude, within the Alto Sangro district of the Maiella National Park.

The Route

The course is among the most scenic in the regional running landscape: it crosses the historic centers of the three villages, immersed in a landscape of beech forests, high-altitude pastures, and Renaissance architecture. One of the most famous and challenging sections is the four-hundred-step staircase connecting Rivisondoli, a true symbol of the race. The start and finish of the 2026 edition are set in Pescocostanzo, a village listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy and renowned for its extraordinary Renaissance and Baroque historic center and its ancient tradition of bobbin lace.

Organization and Character of the Race

The race is organized by the ASD Podistica 2000 Alto Sangro, with the patronage of the Municipality of Pescocostanzo, and is part of the Corrilabruzzo UISP and Corri Marsica UISP circuits. It is a competitive event with electronic chip timing, open to FIDAL-registered athletes and other sports promotion organizations. Awards are provided for the overall winners and numerous categories, along with entry fee reimbursements for the largest sports groups. The race takes place in all weather conditions and includes medical assistance, aid stations along the route, and a race pack with local products.

The Setting: Pescocostanzo and the Alto Sangro

Set in one of the most beautiful corners of Abruzzo, the Tre Comuni is much more than just a running competition: it is an opportunity to discover the Cinquemiglia Plateau and its mountain villages in summer, when the snow of the famous Roccaraso ski resorts gives way to flowering meadows and hiking trails. The town of Pescocostanzo, nestled at the foot of Monte Calvario at 1,395 meters, and the nearby centers of Rivisondoli and Roccaraso form the tourist heart of the Alto Sangro, an ideal destination for those who love to combine sport with the discovery of Abruzzo's nature and culture.