The world's oldest foot race — 600th jubilee edition!

Santa Maria in Stelle (Verona), Italy, Sunday 4 June 2017

 

Dating back to the year 1208, the Palio di Verona is the world's oldest running event. The race was staged annually until the end of the eighteenth century. After a break of more than 200 years, it was revived in 2008.

Italy's great poet Dante Alighieri (ca. 1265-1321), a statue of whom stands on Verona's Piazza dei Signori (pictured), referred to the event in his famous "Divina Commedia" as the "Palio del drappo verde" ("Race of the Green Cloth").

The drappo verde is still awarded to the fastest man and woman. And like in medieval times, the last male finisher receives a cock. Other traditions have changed over the years. Participants run, for instance, not naked any more.

The race distance and the route have also changed many times.

This year, the event offers:

Race distance	Start time	Time limit
10km non-competitive fun run	8.45	1hr 30min
10km race		60min
21.1km half marathon		2hr 30min

 

You need to be in possession of a medical certificate for athletics if you want to take part in the 10k race or in the half marathon.

The 10k fun run, in contrast, is open to all runners aged 16 years or over.

Starting in the village of Santa Maria in Stelle, which is approximately nine kilometres from Verona's historic centre, the race follows an undulating route on mixed terrain (asphalt and gravel) through the Valpantena, a picturesque wine- and olive-growing valley that stretches northwards from Verona to the beautiful Monti Lessini.

 

Race information: 600. Palio del Drappo Verde di Verona:

Country: Italy

Venue (Map): Santa Maria in Stelle (Verona 9km, Venice 119km, Milan 170km, Trieste 266km)

Date: 4 June 2017 (Sunday)

Race distance:

• 10km non-competitive run without timekeeping
• 10km competitive race
• 21.1km competitive race

Start time: 8.45

Start and finish: Fruttaio della Cantina Valpantena, via Sezano, Santa Maria in Stelle

Race centre: EXPO in the start/finish area (Saturday 3 June 2017, 15.00-19.30; on the day 7.00-8.30)

Entries:

• 10km non-competitive run: by e-mail (up to 30 May 2017); late entries on the day
• 10km/21.1km races: online or by e-mail; entries close 30 May 2017; no entries on the day; entrants must provide a medical certificate for athletics

Entry fees:

• 10km non-competitive run:
  • € 8 (up to 30 May 2017)
  • € 12 (up to 4 June 2017)
• 10km race:
  • € 15 (up to 28 February 2017)
  • € 19 (up to 30 April 2017)
  • € 21 (up to 25 May 2017)
  • € 23 (up to 30 May 2017)
• 21.1km race:
  • € 18 (up to 28 February 2017)
  • € 22 (up to 30 April 2017)
  • € 26 (up to 25 May 2017)
  • € 30 (up to 30 May 2017)

You get:

• 10km non-competitive run: goodie bag, refreshments on the course and at the finish, massage service in the finish area; "Saturday Run per le strade di Dante" (ca. 6km, on Saturday at 7.00 in the city centre of Verona)
• 10km and 21.1km races: medal (guaranteed for entries up to 30 April 2017), chip timing, goodie bag, refreshments on the course and at the finish, massage service in the finish area; "Saturday Run per le strade di Dante" (ca. 6km, on Saturday at 7.00 in the city centre of Verona), showers, pasta party on Saturday (at 19.30), pasta party after the race (at 11.00)

Changing facilities, bag storage: yes

Prizes (10km and 21.1km races): product prizes to the first 5 men and 5 women and to the first 5 in each age group (prizes are not cumulative)

Special prize (10km and 21.1km races): drappo verde (green cloth) to the fastest man and woman; a cock to the last male finisher

Award ceremony: at 10.30

Number of finishers 2016: 306 (21.1km)

Event website:

 

Trail runners may be prefer to take part in the very hilly Valpantena Trail which will be held on the same day in the same place. The event kicks off at 8am and features two very hilly trail races (13km and 26km long) and a non-competitive trail run (13km).

Event website:

 

No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page! Please visit the official event website to verify the above information.