The Race
The Termal Bologna Marathon runs on the first Saturday of March through the medieval arcades (*portici*) that are Bologna's defining architectural feature. The course loops through the historic centre and the flat urban streets of the Po Valley city, starting and finishing at the Piazza Maggiore. The flat terrain of the Po plain and the cool March conditions make this one of the better personal best opportunities among Italy's city marathons.
| Distance | 42.195 km |
| Course type | Flat, city streets. Loop through Bologna historic centre and urban area. |
| Certification | IAAF Road Race Label |
| Series | Independent Italian city marathon |
| Start location | Piazza Maggiore, Bologna |
| Finish location | Piazza Maggiore, Bologna |
| Elevation gain | Minimal (Po Valley city) |
| Total finishers | ~10,000 |
| Entry type | Open entry (no ballot) |
| Avg race-day temp | 5 to 12°C (March, northern Italy) |
| Airport connection | Marconi Express monorail: BLQ to Bologna Centrale in 7 minutes |
The portici: Bologna has 38 kilometres of covered arcaded walkways throughout the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in their own right. The marathon course runs through many of them. Running under the medieval arches in March morning light is the specific visual experience of this race.
Entry
The Bologna Marathon operates open entry - no ballot required. Registration is available to all runners internationally, opening several months before the March race date. Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
No ballot: Unlike the World Marathon Majors, the Bologna Marathon accepts all runners. International entry is straightforward via the official race website. Entry fees are typically lower than the major city marathons.
Enter the Bologna Marathon →Race Weekend
The Expo
The Bologna Marathon expo and number collection takes place in the days before the Saturday race, typically in the Piazza Maggiore area. Check the official race website for the current year's arrangements. Allow time on the Friday before the race for number collection; same-day collection is not available.
Race Day Morning
The start is at the Piazza Maggiore in the historic centre. Most central hotels are within walking distance. The March morning temperature in Bologna is typically 5 to 10°C at race start; bring a throwaway layer and discard it at the corrals. Wave starts allow all ability levels to participate.
The Course
The route runs through the arcaded streets of the historic centre and loops through the flat urban area surrounding the city walls. The portici - the covered walkways that are Bologna's defining architectural feature - feature throughout the first and final sections. The finish returns to the Piazza Maggiore.
After Finishing
The finish and recovery area are in the Piazza Maggiore and surrounding streets. The historic centre is compact and navigable on post-marathon legs; most hotels are within easy walking distance of the finish. Bologna Centrale station, with connections to Florence, Modena, Venice, and Milan, is 15 minutes' walk from the Piazza Maggiore.
Where to Stay
The historic centre is the optimal area. The start and finish are at the Piazza Maggiore; central hotels are within walking distance. The Via dell'Indipendenza hotel corridor connects the Centrale station to the Piazza Maggiore via 750 metres of covered arcades.
Grand Hotel Majestic gia Baglioni
££££On Via dell'Indipendenza, the principal porticoed street leading to the Piazza Maggiore. The traditional Bologna grande dame. Correct for marathon weekend.
Hotel Commercianti
£££Directly on the Piazza Maggiore. Medieval building with modern rooms. Cannot be better positioned for the start line.
i Portici Hotel
£££In a restored Liberty-style cinema on Via dell'Indipendenza. One Michelin-starred restaurant on site. Strong for pre-race dinner.
Hotel Metropolitan
££Near Bologna Centrale, useful if arriving late the night before. Flat walk along the porticoed Via dell'Indipendenza to the race start.
Hotel Porta San Mamolo
££Near the medieval city gate. Quiet, well-priced, a short walk from the start through the historic streets.
See & Do
Bologna rewards slow walking. The historic centre is compact, the streets are flat under the arcades, and almost everything worth seeing is within 20 minutes of the Piazza Maggiore.
Piazza Maggiore and the Basilica di San Petronio
The start and finish line. San Petronio was planned to be larger than St Peter's in Rome; the Pope stopped the funding. The unfinished facade tells the story.
The Two Towers (Le Due Torri)
Asinelli (97m) and Garisenda (48m, leaning), 12th-century Bologna. There were once 180 such towers in the city; these two are what the skyline offers.
Mercato di Mezzo
The covered food market in the medieval streets behind the Piazza Maggiore. Mortadella at Tamburini, fresh pasta at La Vecchia Malga. The correct Saturday morning programme.
The Portico di San Luca
3.8 kilometres of uninterrupted covered arcade climbing to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca on the hill above the city. The longest portico in the world. Not appropriate for post-marathon legs - do it the day before.
Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio
The original seat of the University of Bologna (founded 1088, the oldest in the world). The anatomy theatre - the *Teatro Anatomico* - is the most extraordinary room in Bologna.
Osteria dell'Orsa
Via Mentana. The unofficial university canteen of Bologna, operating since the 1970s. Tagliatelle al ragu at a price that suggests it is still the 1980s. Queue at the door from 19:30.
After the Race
Bologna Centrale is 15 minutes from the finish line and has high-speed connections to Florence (37 min), Modena (20 min), Ferrara (30 min), Venice (35 min), and Milan (65 min). Few marathon cities offer this much post-race travel range. These itineraries make the most of it.
Long Read
Bologna: The City That Puts Half of Italy Within Reach
Florence is 37 minutes by Frecciarossa. Venice is 75. Verona is under an hour. One hotel room, four cities - the full travel story on the Destinations desk.
Modena
Day tripThe Enzo Ferrari Museum, a UNESCO Romanesque cathedral, and the world's best traditional balsamic vinegar. The most efficient food-and-culture day trip from Bologna.
Florence
Day tripThe Uffizi in March with no queues. The Piazza del Duomo before the coach parties arrive. The Oltrarno cold and navigable.
Verona
Day tripA Roman amphitheatre that has seated 22,000 people since the first century AD. Compact, flat, entirely walkable. Pastissada de Caval and Valpolicella for lunch.
Ravenna
Day trip1,500-year-old Byzantine mosaics in an uncrowded city. The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the imperial portraits at San Vitale, and Dante's tomb - all flat, all within ten minutes of each other.
Venice
Day tripThe train terminates at the water's edge. Grand Canal by Vaporetto, San Marco in March without the crowds, bacaro lunch near the Rialto. The bridges are the only problem on post-marathon legs.
Ferrara
1 nightNine kilometres of flat Renaissance city walls, walkable as a circuit. The Este castle on its original moat. One of the least-known UNESCO cities in Italy.
Modena
2 nightsThe Enzo Ferrari Museum, the world's best traditional balsamic vinegar, a 12th-century Romanesque cathedral, and Osteria Francescana three streets away.
Lake Garda
2 nightsPeschiera del Garda in its Venetian star-fort walls, then Sirmione - a medieval castle over the water, Roman ruins in olive groves, and thermal springs at 37°C. Low season, no crowds.
Bolzano and the Dolomites
2 nightsSouth Tyrol's capital: the Ötzi the Iceman museum, medieval arcades, a riverside walk to a castle of 14th-century frescoes. Day two: the Renon plateau by cable car above the Dolomite peaks.
Ravenna and Parma
4 nightsTwo nights with 1,500-year-old Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna. Two nights in the world capital of Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Flies out from Bologna Airport in 7 minutes from the Centrale.
Frequently asked questions
Should I stay near the start or the finish?
The course starts and finishes at the same point near the Piazza Maggiore. Any hotel in the historic centre is within walking distance. The arcaded streets (*portici*) that connect hotels to the start are flat and sheltered.
How do I enter?
Open entry - no ballot required. Registration opens several months before the March race date at the official race website. International runners can register online with no geographic restrictions.
How do I get from the airport?
Bologna Marconi Airport (BLQ) is connected to Bologna Centrale by the Marconi Express monorail in 7 minutes. From the Centrale, the historic centre is a 15-minute walk or short taxi.
What is the weather typically like?
Early March in Bologna: 5 to 12°C at race start, with a possibility of rain. The Po Valley in early spring is variable - check the forecast in race week and prepare for cool conditions.
Is the course flat?
Very flat. Bologna is built on the Po Valley plain at the foot of the Apennines; the city centre streets are level. Total elevation gain is minimal. Good conditions for a personal best.
What is the best area to stay?
The historic centre, within the walls and close to the Piazza Maggiore. The Via dell'Indipendenza and Via Ugo Bassi hotel cluster is walking distance from the start.
When does the expo open?
In the days before the Saturday race, in the Piazza Maggiore area. Check the official race website for current dates - the arrangement changes annually.
Is there a bag drop?
Yes, at the start/finish area. Specific arrangements are updated annually on the official race website.
How do I get to Florence from Bologna?
Frecciarossa and Italo high-speed trains from Bologna Centrale to Firenze Santa Maria Novella take 37 minutes. Multiple services per hour. Standard fare approximately €10 to 20 booked in advance.
What makes Bologna special for marathon travel?
Bologna is Italy's food capital and Europe's best-connected mid-size city. Florence is 37 minutes away, Modena 20, Venice 35. The post-race travel options from Bologna Centrale are better than from almost any other Italian marathon city.