Volkswagen Barletta Marathon & Half Marathon

A marathon returns home after nearly thirty years

The Volkswagen Barletta Marathon & Half Marathon is the flagship running event in Barletta, the capital city of the Barletta-Andria-Trani (BAT) province in Puglia. After a twenty-nine-year hiatus, the marathon returned to the city streets in 2025, restoring the classic 42.195 km distance to the Puglian and Southern Italian running calendar.

The event was born with a bold, stated mission: to become the premier marathon of Southern Italy, a landmark race capable of attracting athletes from across the peninsula in the heart of winter, when the mild Southern climate offers ideal racing conditions.

Three distances for everyone

The event offers three race formats designed to accommodate competitive athletes, amateur runners, and families alike:

• Marathon — the classic 42.195 km competitive race.
• Half Marathon — 21.097 km, the most popular and fastest event.
• Non-competitive run — an open event (known as BarlettaCorre), perfect for those who want to soak up the atmosphere without the pressure of a stopwatch.

A route between history and the sea

The course winds through Barletta's most beautiful and iconic landmarks: the Swabian Castle and its moat, which serves as the event's nerve center; the monument-rich historic center; and the eastern coastline along the Pietro Paolo Mennea seafront, named after the legendary local Olympic sprinter and "Arrow of the South." The course is widely regarded as fast and fluid, as evidenced by the history of the half marathon.

Organization and spirit

The race is organized by ASD Barletta Sportiva, led by Enzo Cascella, in partnership with the Club Supermarathon Italia under president Paolo Gino. Since its debut, the event has attracted significant registration numbers, with thousands of participants from all over Italy and the full support of the Municipality of Barletta.

Each edition features an evocative theme tied to the city's identity: the 2026 edition was dedicated to Hannibal, the Carthaginian general who defeated the Romans in the nearby Battle of Cannae in 216 BC, highlighting the deep bond between the race and the millennia-old history of this corner of Puglia.