Villaricca Running
The September road race in the heart of Villaricca
About Villaricca Running
A city race at the gates of Naples
The Villaricca Running is a competitive road race held in Villaricca, a town of about thirty thousand inhabitants in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania. Launched in 2025, the event immediately established itself as one of the most popular running races in the area north of the regional capital: the first edition saw over three hundred athletes at the start, a remarkable number for a debut race.
The format is the classic one for city races in Southern Italy: a course entirely on asphalt, a manageable distance, an early morning start, and roads closed to traffic to make way for the runners. The result is a morning of sport that involves not only the competitors but also the residents, who gather along the main streets to cheer on the pack.
The course: two laps in the center
The race takes place on a city loop to be covered twice, for a total distance of approximately 9.8 kilometers (commonly referred to as 10 km). The route crosses the town's main arteries: Corso Italia, Corso Europa, Via Napoli, Via della Libertà, and Corso Vittorio Emanuele, as well as the surrounding streets. It is a flat and fast course, suitable for those looking for a good personal best: in the first edition, the winner finished in just over 33 minutes.
The meeting point is the Villa Comunale on Viale della Repubblica, which serves as the event headquarters for bib collection, bag storage, and award ceremonies. A refreshment station is provided at the fifth kilometer, at the transition point between the first and second lap.
Organizers
The event is organized by A.S.D. Villaricca Runners, a club affiliated with FIDAL (Italian Athletics Federation) with code NA145, active in the area for over fifteen years. The race is included in the regional federal calendar, and timing is managed by ICRON, with a disposable chip applied to the shoe and a personalized bib.
In the spirit of the Festa dei Gigli
The September date is no coincidence. In Villaricca, the month is dominated by the Festa dei Gigli, the great popular celebration dedicated to the patron saints, which in 2025 took place from September 7th to 22nd with processions, the Ballata del Giglio, shows, and gastronomic events. The running race is part of a calendar of events that combines devotion, tradition, and sport, and for many participants, it represents an opportunity to discover a town in full festive atmosphere.
Visitors arriving from outside will find a unique setting for a road race: market stalls, festive lights, and decorated streets provide a backdrop for warm-ups and award ceremonies, reflecting the sense of an event deeply rooted in the life of the municipality.
Who can participate
- FIDAL-registered athletes for affiliated clubs;
- Runcard holders with a valid competitive medical certificate;
- Members of Sports Promotion Bodies affiliated with CONI, also with a valid competitive medical certificate.
The maximum number of participants is set at 1000, and registration closes upon reaching this limit or at the deadline indicated by the organizers.
Awards and rankings
All finishers receive the official medal. Prizes are awarded to the top overall male and female finishers, category winners, and teams that bring at least 25 athletes to the finish line: a formula that, as in many races in Campania, encourages clubs to participate in large groups, contributing to a collective festive atmosphere rather than just an individual challenge.
Why it is worth running
Villaricca Running is a race that suits both the experienced runner looking for a fast time and the amateur who wants to enjoy a morning of sport in a warm, urban setting. The affordable entry fee, manageable distance, and federal organization make it one of the most accessible events in the Naples province running calendar.
Villaricca Running — edition 2026
Villaricca Running 2026: the second edition
Following its 2025 debut, the Villaricca Running returns on Sunday, September 27, 2026, for its second edition. The race is listed in the FIDAL federal calendar as « II Villaricca Running - km 9,800 », a regional-level road race organized by A.S.D. Villaricca Runners in the municipality of Villaricca, in the Metropolitan City of Naples.
The official distance is 9.8 kilometers, often referred to as 10 km, to be covered in two laps of a city loop that touches Corso Italia, Corso Europa, Via Napoli, Via della Libertà, and Corso Vittorio Emanuele. A refreshment station is located at the fifth kilometer, at the transition point between the first and second lap. The meeting point is set at the Villa Comunale on Viale della Repubblica, which also hosts bib collection and award ceremonies.
Timing is managed by ICRON with a disposable chip to be applied to the shoe and a personalized bib. Registration is open to FIDAL-registered athletes, Runcard holders, and members of Sports Promotion Bodies affiliated with CONI, all possessing a valid competitive medical certificate. The maximum limit is 1000 participants.
As in the first edition, the date falls during the period when Villaricca celebrates its patronal festivities linked to the Festa dei Gigli, which gives the race a particularly lively backdrop.
Programme Villaricca Running 2026
Villaricca Running 2026 — Sunday, September 27
- Single race: competitive road race of approximately 9.8 km (FIDAL name « II Villaricca Running - km 9,800 »), on a city course to be covered twice.
- Meeting point and headquarters: Villa Comunale, Viale della Repubblica 112 — bib collection, bag storage, and award ceremonies.
- Course: Corso Italia, Corso Europa, Via Napoli, Via della Libertà, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, and surrounding streets, two laps.
- Refreshment: at the 5th kilometer, at the lap transition; final refreshment at the finish line.
- Timing: ICRON, disposable chip applied to the shoe, personalized bib.
- Limited entry: maximum 1000 participants.
The meeting and start times will be communicated by the organizers in the final regulations. In the 2025 edition, the meeting was set at 7:00 AM at the Villa Comunale and the start at 8:30 AM from Corso Italia.
Highlights Villaricca Running 2026
- Second edition of a young but already well-attended race: over 300 finishers at the 2025 debut.
- Flat and fast two-lap city course, ideal for those seeking a good 10 km time.
- Official medal for all finishers.
- Prizes for top overall male and female finishers, categories, and teams with at least 25 classified athletes.
- Refreshment station at the 5th kilometer and support along the route.
- Festive atmosphere: the race takes place during the patronal festivities and the Festa dei Gigli of Villaricca.
Prices Villaricca Running 2026
Practical information — Villaricca Running
How to get there
By car: Villaricca can be reached via the Asse Mediano (Villaricca exit) or from the Naples Tangenziale and the SS 7 quater Domitiana. From Naples city center, the journey is about 15 km. On race days, some streets in the center are closed to traffic: it is advisable to arrive early and park in the peripheral areas.
By train and metro
The nearest station is Villaricca-Calvizzano on the Naples-Aversa line (Metrocampania NordEst / EAV), with frequent connections from Naples Piazza Garibaldi. From the station, the center can be reached on foot or by a short bus ride.
Meeting point
Villa Comunale, Viale della Repubblica 112, Villaricca (NA): this is the meeting point for bib collection and the award ceremony.
Registration and fees
Entry fee of approximately 10 euros (9 euros for those with a personal chip), registration via the ICRON platform. Limited to 1000 participants. A valid competitive medical certificate is mandatory.
Tips
The course is flat but takes place at the end of summer: in September in Campania, temperatures can still be high; it is best to hydrate well before the start and take advantage of the refreshment station at the fifth kilometer. The final refreshment and award ceremonies take place at the Villa Comunale.
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Where does it take place — Villaricca Running
Villa Comunale
Viale della Repubblica 112, 80010 Villaricca