Florence Marathon

The Florence Marathon (Firenze Marathon) offers an exceptionally flat, fast, and globally renowned road course that guides runners through the architectural heart of Tuscany. The course is AIMS-certified and a Boston Marathon Qualifier. The route features a total elevation difference between the high and low points of only about 23 meters (75 feet).

The course is a tight loop that takes place almost entirely on paved streets, park roads, and pedestrian plazas. The race begins and ends in the historic center near the majestic Piazza del Duomo, right beside the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. From the central square, the route heads north before tracking along the Arno River, weaving extensively through the city's largest public park, crossing multiple historic bridges, and looping through local residential and sporting districts before returning to the old town core.

The course is defined by the city's cultural landmarks and river geography. Between miles 5 and 7 (kilometers 8 to 12), runners enjoy a long, uninterrupted, and shaded stretch through the tree-lined avenues of Cascine Park. The route features four crossings of the Arno River, guiding runners over the wartime Ponte della Vittoria, the legendary medieval stone arches of the Ponte Vecchio, the Ponte alle Grazie, and the Ponte San Niccolò. Near the 20-mile (32-kilometer) mark, the course routes through the Artemio Franchi Stadium sports complex. Runners must be highly alert during the final 5 kilometers, where the route twists through narrow historic corridors paved with tightly fitted, wide cobblestones that can become slippery if autumn rain occurs. Dense, high-energy crowd support lines the final kilometers as spectators cheer participants into Piazza della Signoria and back to the Duomo.

A smart pacing strategy relies on locking into a consistent pace through the miles of Cascine Park and the riverside avenues.