Vietri e Dintorni — Le Vie dei Sentieri

A race through the trails of the Amalfi Coast

When the Campanian running calendar restarts after the holidays, the place to be is Vietri sul Mare, a town in the province of Salerno, Campania, widely considered the gateway to the Amalfi Coast. Here, on the second Sunday of January, "Vietri e Dintorni" takes center stage, a mountain running race held on the course known as "Le Vie dei Sentieri". It is one of the region's longest-running sporting events: in 2026, it marked its twenty-fourth edition, cementing itself as a traditional season-opener for hundreds of runners.

The course: ten kilometers between sea and hills

The official distance is 10 kilometers, with both start and finish in Piazza Amendola, in the heart of the historic center. From there, the pack climbs along mule tracks and stairways connecting the town to the upper hamlets, crossing vistas that overlook the Gulf of Salerno. The initial section of the track touches Villa Guariglia and the vineyards of Raito, featuring a climb that quickly separates the lead group; the final portion is a long, technical descent that brings competitors back toward the sea and the finish line.

• Distance: 10 km on trails, mule tracks, and paved sections
• Start and finish: Piazza Amendola, Vietri sul Mare
• Typical start time: 9:15 AM
• Nature: mountain running race with elevation gain and mixed terrain

The prizes? Handmade Vietri ceramics

The feature that sets this race apart from all others is the prize pool. In Vietri sul Mare, ceramics are an identity even before being a trade, and the awards for the winners are hand-painted ceramic plaques crafted by local master potters, featuring a traditional white-glazed, naïve style. In 2026, the works were signed by the Ceramica Cassetta workshop: unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that are worth more than any trophy and tell the story of the town better than any brochure.

Who organizes it

The event is a collaboration between the Department of Sport of the Municipality of Vietri sul Mare, the Pro Loco Vietri sul Mare, and the Youth Forum, with the patronage of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) and technical direction provided by the Italian Sports Center (CSI). It is a purely local organizational model that has successfully combined the rigor of the stopwatch with the spirit of a village festival over the years: it is not uncommon to find residents of the hamlets cheering on the runners from their windows along the route.

More than just a race: the Vietri weekend

The race is often part of a broader weekend dedicated to the outdoors. In recent editions, the Pro Loco has complemented the Sunday competition with a trekking excursion on Monte San Liberatore, with a meeting point in Piazza Amendola, a welcome coffee, and a morning departure toward the summit, following the route that brushes past the Valle area and offers views over the Molina valley and the Castello di Arechi. It is a perfect opportunity for those who prefer walking to running but still want to enjoy the winter trails of Vietri.

Why it's worth the trip

Running in January on the Amalfi Coast means experiencing Italy's most famous landscape without the summer crowds: the low winter light, the sea opening up at every hairpin turn, and the majolica-tiled roofs of Vietri seen from above. The race is open to registered athletes and regularly attracts teams from all over Campania—Salerno, the Irno Valley, the Agro Nocerino-Sarnese, and the Cilento—with a technical level that is surprising for a local event. Those arriving from outside the region can combine the sporting morning with a visit to the ceramic workshops in the center and the Museum of Ceramics at Villa Guariglia in Raito.