Vitetum Run

The Bitetto road race

The Vitetum Run is a road race held in Bitetto, a small town in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Puglia. The name pays homage to Vitetum, the ancient Latin toponym from which the town's name derives, anchoring the event to its local identity. The race is organized by ASD Bitetto Runners, recognized by FIDAL Bari, and supported by the Municipality of Bitetto—a town awarded the Gold Medal for Civil Merit—and the Puglia Region.

A course through town and the Cammino Materano

The competitive race covers a distance of approximately 10 kilometres. The route is a blend of urban and rural paths, crossing segments of the Cammino Materano, the pilgrimage trail connecting Puglia to Matera. The start and finish are located on Via Beato Giacomo, near the Sanctuary of Beato Giacomo da Bitetto, the town's spiritual heart. The entire course is closed to traffic and monitored by FIDAL judges, local police, civil protection, and numerous volunteers, with medical assistance provided throughout the route.

The Trofeo Terra di Bari circuit

The Vitetum Run is a stage of the Trofeo Terra di Bari, a popular running circuit that brings together the main road races in the Bari area and enlivens the FIDAL calendar from September onwards. First-time participants in the circuit receive a unique race bib valid for all events in the season. Timing is managed by ICRON via chip technology, with awards for overall male and female winners, as well as various age categories and the largest participating teams.

The Giuditta Occhiogrosso Memorial

The 2025 edition introduced the «1st Giuditta Occhiogrosso Memorial», featuring a special prize dedicated to the first-place female finisher in the general ranking. This gesture highlights the deep bond between the race and the Bitetto community, where the event is celebrated as both a local festival and a sporting competition.

Bitetto and the Sanctuary of Beato Giacomo

Visiting Bitetto offers the chance to explore a town in the Bari hinterland known for its medieval historic centre, the Romanesque Cathedral of San Michele Arcangelo, and the Sanctuary housing the remains of Beato Giacomo, a site of popular devotion. The municipal pine forest adjacent to the sanctuary serves as the meeting point for runners and the venue for the awards ceremony, offering a green, intimate setting just steps from the finish line.