Rome Marathon 2025: Italy's largest running event

Since the beginning of the 20th century, Rome has hosted numerous editions of the city's historic marathon.

This sporting event has a long and prestigious tradition in the capital, being one of the oldest and most prestigious events on the international running scene.

The most significant moment was undoubtedly the marathon held during the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, when Ethiopian Abebe Bikila stunned the world by winning the race barefoot, setting a new Olympic record. His feat remains one of the most iconic and memorable images in marathon history.

In 1995, the Rome Marathon was reorganized and took on its current form. The first revamped edition saw the triumph of Ethiopia's Belayneh Tadesse in the men's race and Russia's Elena Sipatova in the women's race, confirming the event's international appeal.

We have to wait until the fourth edition, in 1998, to witness the first victory of an Italian athlete. On that occasion it was the great Stefano Baldini, later Olympic champion in Athens 2004, who stood on the top step of the men's podium. A success that made the whole Roman public enthusiastic.

The only exception to this long and uninterrupted history was the failed 2020 edition, which was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic that shook the world of sports.

The last edition saw the triumph of two Kenyan athletes, Asbel Rutto in the men's race and Ivyne Lagat in the women's race, confirming the dominance of African athletes in one of the most prestigious and competitive running races in the world.

Once again, the start and finish will be at the Imperial Forum, a 5-minute walk from the FH55 Hotel Palatino.

The course will take place entirely in the historical center of Rome and will also run along the Lungotevere, crossing no less than four bridges over the capital's river.

The start is on Via dei Fori Imperiali, near the Colosseum, a very wide avenue that allows the many participants to pass without congestion.

The classic route passes through the most symbolic places of the capital: the majestic Circus Maximus, the walls of the Castel Sant'Angelo and Via della Conciliazione, which rises in front of St. Peter's Basilica.

Next we reach the Foro Italico and head south to Piazza Navona, past the Pantheon to the Spanish Steps, dominated by the famous Spanish Steps.

Smaller streets lead to the Trevi Fountain, in a pedestrian island paved with sanpietrini, which is the most winding part of the marathon.

The route leads to the Pyramid of Cestia and then to the Colosseum along the Imperial Forum Avenue to the finish line.

A side event to the Rome Marathon is the "La Stracittadina" Fun Run, the largest non-competitive event in Italy, with peaks of up to 80,000 participants.

The starting point is always the Imperial Forum and the finishing line is inside the Circus Maximus, after about 5 km, enriched with music and solidarity. Many families with children or friends take part in the event, both running and walking. Amidst smiles and chatter, the pace is free and one arrives at the finish line with a great sense of happiness.

The FH55 Grand Hotel Palatino is the excellent solution to experience or attend the most important running event in Italy.

In fact, the FH55 Grand Hotel Palatino is located within the circle of the Imperial Forums area, that is, it is 400 meters from the start and finish point of the Rome Marathon.

If you are looking for a place to rest quietly in view of the marathon or if you are looking for a place to see the start and finish of the Rome Marathon, the FH55 Grand Hotel Palatino is the obligatory choice for the most important running event in Italy.

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