Trail dei Fontanili

A race born from the village festival

The Trail dei Fontanili is the running event that the Municipality of Fonte Nuova, in the metropolitan city of Rome (Lazio), has seen grow in the shadow of its most beloved celebration, the Sagra delle Rose of Santa Lucia. While the Sagra fills Piazza delle Rose with food stalls, concerts, and floats, the Trail chooses the opposite path: taking the celebration out of the town center, into the fields, dirt paths, and springs that give the race its name.

Thirteen kilometers between water and Roman countryside

The course measures 13 kilometers and is designed as a non-competitive event, meaning it is open to both registered athletes and amateur runners, and in many sections, even those who prefer to walk. The technical organization is managed in collaboration with Lazio Runners, a group active in the running scene northeast of the capital.

The name of the race refers to the fontanili, the ancient springs and water sources that dot this portion of the Roman countryside at the foot of the Lucretili Mountains. It is a transitional landscape where the residential expansion that made Fonte Nuova one of the youngest and most populous municipalities in the province quickly gives way to olive groves, arable land, and dirt tracks.

Why it's worth a visit

• Accessible distance: 13 km is an ideal length for those who want to try trail running without tackling an ultra.
• Popular character: it is not an elite race but a community sporting celebration, with the typical atmosphere of local Lazio races.
• Connection to the Sagra: participants get in touch with a tradition that has been renewed in Santa Lucia for nearly half a century.
• Proximity to Rome: Fonte Nuova is about twenty kilometers from the Grande Raccordo Anulare, making the trip very convenient for runners from Rome.

Fonte Nuova and the Sagra delle Rose

Fonte Nuova is a relatively recent municipality, established in 2001 from the merger of the territories of Santa Lucia and Tor Lupara, formerly hamlets of Mentana and Guidonia Montecelio. The Sagra delle Rose, promoted by the Quelli della Sagra association, is the identity-defining event that holds this community together: in 2026 it reached its 48th edition, with a two-week program in Piazza delle Rose between late May and early June. The Trail dei Fontanili is its natural sporting appendix, scheduled for late June to extend the festival season.

Who participates

The race is aimed at a wide audience: registered runners from Lazio clubs, local amateur runners, accompanying families, and groups of walkers. As it is a non-competitive event, the emphasis is more on participation and discovering the territory than on the stopwatch.

Information and updates

Exact dates, start times, fees, and registration methods are communicated year by year by the organizers through the channels of the Sagra delle Rose and Lazio Runners. It is therefore advisable to check the official references in the weeks leading up to the end of June, as the calendar may be subject to adjustments.