Ravenna Marathon (Maratona di Ravenna Città d'Arte): Dates, Tickets & Venue (Ravenna)

Racing past sixth-century mosaics

Few marathons pass this many UNESCO sites. Ravenna’s early Christian monuments hold some of the finest Byzantine mosaics anywhere. The race is built around that heritage, which is why it carries the name “Città d’Arte”, City of Art.

The weekend runs November 7-8, 2026. It offers three levels of effort:

• Marathon: the full 42.195 km
• Half-marathon: 21.097 km
• Shorter races: non-competitive distances suited to families, walkers and runners who want an easy outing

Ravenna sits on the flat plain of Emilia-Romagna, so expect a course with little climbing. November in the Po Valley is usually cool, and morning fog is common. Both suit fast running more than sightseeing from the roadside.

Reaching Ravenna for race weekend

Most international runners fly into Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport. From there, take the Marconi Express shuttle to Bologna Centrale. Regional trains to Ravenna station take a little over an hour.

Ravenna station sits on the eastern edge of the historic centre. Piazza del Popolo, the main square, is roughly a 10-minute walk away. The old town is compact and largely pedestrianised, so you can reach most of it on foot.

Rimini, with its own airport and long seafront hotel strip, is another base. Trains connect it to Ravenna along the coast. Confirm the start area, bib collection point and race timings on the official site. Street closures on race day can change how you cross town.

Entries, paperwork and the start line

Race entries are the “tickets” here. Prices and deadlines are posted on the official race site, which is the only reliable source. Italian competitive races generally require a medical certificate for competitive sport. Runners without an Italian athletics federation membership usually need a RUNCARD as well. Check exactly which documents your distance needs before you pay.

The non-competitive shorter races usually have lighter paperwork, which makes them the simplest option for companions. Book accommodation early. The historic centre has limited hotel stock, and a race weekend fills it fast.

Cheering, cycling and recovering like Ravennati

Spectators along Italian courses shout “Dai!” and “Forza!” Shout them back and you’ll get a grin. Ravenna is a cycling town, so locals cross the centre by bike on race weekend too. Keep to footpaths when spectating. Hire a bike yourself for the shake-out day and you’ll fit in at once.

Save the monuments for your recovery day, since your legs need flat, slow walking anyway:

• Basilica of San Vitale: the Justinian and Theodora mosaic panels
• Mausoleum of Galla Placidia: a deep blue, star-covered ceiling in a tiny brick building beside San Vitale
• Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo: processions of saints and virgins along both nave walls
• Neonian and Arian Baptisteries: two domed baptism scenes, one of each tradition
• Dante’s Tomb: the poet’s resting place, in the quiet streets of the Zona del Silenzio

A combined ticket covers several mosaic sites. Its current price is listed at the ticket offices and on the official monuments site. To refuel, look for a piadina romagnola. It’s the regional flatbread, filled with squacquerone cheese and rocket or with cured meat, and sold from street kiosks across the city. Follow it with a bowl of cappelletti in broth, a Romagna staple in the cold months.