After the Maratona Maga Circe: Circeo National Park and Lake Paola

The Route: Sabaudia → Lake Paola and Torre Paola → Circeo National Park → Sabaudia Logistics: A hire car is simplest. Local buses exist but check the Monday timetable. Marathon Month: February Duration: Day trip

Sabaudia ──(car or bus, check timetable)──> Lake Paola / Torre Paola ──> Circeo National Park ──> Sabaudia

The Maratona Maga Circe finishes in Piazza del Comune in Sabaudia on a Sunday, after a run along the shoreline from San Felice Circeo harbour. The organiser's older route descriptions mention dunes, Torre Paola, the lagoon and the strips between sea and lake, so the landscape of the race is also the landscape of the recovery day. Legs that have spent four or five hours on the road are better suited to flat paths than to a full itinerary.

February on the coast is cool and can be windy. The beach is empty, and the water is cold. Take a windproof layer, and check opening times for the park visitor centres, since winter access can differ from summer.

Lake Paola and the dunes

The lagoon lies behind the dune strip, close to Sabaudia. A walk along its edge is level, and a gentle loop is enough. Torre Paola is a landmark the organiser names on its historic route. Check which paths are open in February, and wear shoes you do not mind getting sandy.

Sabaudia

The town was planned as a whole, with a wide central square, and can be walked in an hour. The finish square is still the heart of it, and cafes around it are a good place to sit. Check which are open on a Monday in winter.

Food

Ask at the hotel for a lunch recommendation. Fish is common on the coast, but restaurants in a resort town often close for part of the winter, so book ahead.

Getting back

Return to Sabaudia by the same road. If taking a bus, check the last departure before lunch. A taxi is the fallback.