The Race
| Next Race Date | Sunday 18 April 2027 |
|---|---|
| Course type | Loop (start and finish at the same square) |
| Registration | Open, online through ENDU |
| Ballot opens | Not applicable |
| Start | Piazza della Vittoria, Marsala, 08:30 |
| Finish | Piazza della Vittoria |
| Total finishers | About 270 (2026) |
| Avg race-day temp | To be Confirmed |
| Cutoff time | 6 hours |
| Free race-day transport | No |
| Course certification | FIDAL Type A homologated (2026 listing) |
History
Marsala's marathon is young. ASD Polisportiva Marsala Doc, the club behind the city's half marathon, added a full 42.195 km race in 2025, and the second edition ran on 26 April 2026. The third is announced for April 2027. Anyone searching for decades of results will find them only for the half, which is a separate and older event with its own numbering.
Polisportiva Marsala Doc is registered with FIDAL, and the marathon sits on the national road calendar with a homologated Type A course. The 2026 edition doubled as a regional Masters championship. The title sponsor, Sigel, and the subtitle Città Garibaldina belong to the town's Garibaldi story: Giuseppe Garibaldi landed at Marsala in May 1860 at the start of the Expedition of the Thousand, and Porta Garibaldi, one of the old gates, appears on the route.
The opening edition drew 846 finishers across both distances according to local press, and the 2026 edition counted about 1,100 entries across the marathon and half. Those are combined figures. The regional press report on the second marathon counted 270 classified marathon finishers, which is the number to use for the full.
Giuseppe Tarantino won the men's race in 2:34:23, 26 seconds clear of Carlo Marino, and Simona Pipitone won the women's in 3:05:18, reported as a new course record for the women. Both results come from a single regional outlet and are provisional until the official classification is checked. With two completed editions there is no meaningful men's course record to quote yet.
The course
The marathon starts and finishes in Piazza della Vittoria, in Marsala's old town. It leaves along Via Boeo and the seafront, then follows the coast road south on the Lungomare Mediterraneo and Via Vincenzo Florio towards Petrosino, and turns near Contrada Fossarunza at about 12 km. The return runs through the old town, passing Porta Garibaldi at about 20 km, to Piazza della Vittoria, which runners pass at 21 km without finishing.
The second half heads north-east along Via Sandro Pertini and the Lungo Mare dello Stagnone, with the salt pans and windmills beside the lagoon. The turnaround lies about 100 metres beyond the historic embarkation point for Mozia, the island that is not on the course. The route then retraces to Via Boeo and Viale Isonzo and finishes in the square.
The surface is asphalt and the profile is flat at sea level, between 1 and 21 m on the SRTM profile. The organiser publishes no elevation figure. Wind off the sea is the variable, and shade is scarce on both coastal legs.
Kilometre by kilometre
Kilometre positions come from the 2026 route, which the organiser's KMZ matches to within 0.1 km, and are approximate to about half a kilometre. The 2027 map has not been published.
Km 0 to 12: south along the coast. The gun fires at 08:30 in Piazza della Vittoria (2026 was 08:45, so check the final time). The first kilometres run along Via Boeo and drop to the seafront on the Lungomare Mediterraneo at 3 and 4 km, with the sea on the right. The route continues on Via Vincenzo Florio through Casabianca at 5 to 7 km and Terrenove Bambina at 8 to 10 km, and turns near Contrada Fossarunza at about 12 km, 8.6 km from the start in a straight line. This is the flattest and most exposed stretch, at 3 to 8 m above sea level. A headwind here will be a tailwind on the return, and the road gives no shelter either way.
Km 12 to 21: back to the square. The return retraces Via Vincenzo Florio at 13 to 18 km, then climbs a gentle 16 m to Via Mario Gandolfo at 19 km and the old town at 20 km, 21 m, the high point of the course. The return reaches the old town and the first real crowd of the day. Porta Garibaldi appears around 20 km. Runners cross Piazza della Vittoria at 21 km, where half-marathon finishers stop. Marathon runners keep going straight through, and the finish arch going by is the psychological test of the race.
Km 21 to 31: out towards the lagoon. The second leg drops 17 m by Via Capitano Vito Falco at 22 km and runs north-east on the Lungomare Battaglia delle Egadi at 23 km and Via Sandro Pertini at 24 to 26 km, then along the Lungo Mare dello Stagnone at 27 to 31 km, with the salt pans on the left and the windmills along the water. The field is thinner here, because half-marathon runners have gone. Carry what you need between aid points, which the 2026 rules describe only as intermediate water stations with mineral salts and fruit from 21 km.
Km 31 to 42.2: the retrace. The northern turnaround lies about 100 metres beyond the Mozia embarkation point, near 31 km. The island itself is across the water, not on the course. The route then retraces along the lagoon shore, where wind off the water matters most in the late kilometres, and enters the town by the Lungomare Battaglia delle Egadi at 39 km and Via Capitano Vito Falco at 40 km. The Baglio Anselmi archaeological museum is beside the course on Via Boeo at about 41 km, and the finish is in Piazza della Vittoria after Viale Isonzo.
The 2026 rules mention a six-hour limit and marshalled crossings where roads cannot close fully. A runner at the limit is racing to about 14:30. Follow the signed marathon route at the halfway pass, not the half-marathon finish funnel, and take care with the chip: it must be returned at the finish.
A flat run along the sea on an open road with little shade. Hold back and note the wind direction, because it will matter on the way home.
The return passes Porta Garibaldi and runs into Piazza della Vittoria at halfway. Keep going past the half-marathon finish and do not follow the finish chute.
The field thins out beside the Stagnone salt pans and windmills. Aid is sparse, so carry fuel you have tested.
After the turn near the Mozia embarkation, the same exposed shore leads back to the town. Save something for Via Boeo and Viale Isonzo.
Course Map
The line is the 2026 route, since the 2027 map has not been published. Tap a marker for the start, finish and bib collection and the places on the route, and scrub the slider or press play to move the orange marker along the course with the elevation profile beneath it.
Pacers
No pacer table for the marathon was published in the 2026 rules or on the 2027 page. Do not borrow half-marathon pace groups.
The marathon and half marathon share a start and the first 21 km, which end in Piazza della Vittoria. Half-marathon runners finish there. Marathon runners cross the square at halfway and carry straight on to the second out-and-back. Follow the marathon signs and do not enter the half-marathon finish funnel.
Mid-April mornings on Sicily's west coast start mild, and the sun climbs quickly. The 2026 edition was described as warm with a light breeze, so plan for singlet and shorts, and wear a cap and sunscreen from the first kilometre. The route has almost no shade on either coastal leg. A start at 08:30 means the sun is already up, and a runner finishing around 14:00 will be running through the warmest part of the day.
Wind is the other variable: the road runs close to the sea on both out-and-backs, and a stiff breeze from the wrong direction costs minutes in the final kilometres. Wear what you have tested, carry a small amount of fuel for the lagoon leg, and use the fruit and water at the stations as well as gels. A light jacket for the square before the start is enough, and it can go in a bag. Rain is possible in April but was not a factor in 2026.
Entry
Entry is open and online through ENDU, with no ballot. The organiser's 2027 price bands rise through the registration window (table below). At about €1 to £0.858, that is roughly £26, £30, £34 and £43, before payment charges. The organiser's page says registration opens on 30 September 2026. There is no race-day entry.
To run competitively an entrant needs to be a FIDAL member, to hold a card from a foreign athletics federation recognised by World Athletics (with a signed self-declaration), or to hold a RunCard or RunCard-EPS together with a valid competitive athletics medical certificate. A foreign runner holding a RunCard can use a home-country certificate only if it covers the specific tests the regulation lists. The 2026 rules did not describe a non-competitive tourist waiver for foreign runners. A foreign federation card may avoid the medical route, but ask the organiser to confirm that a specific card is accepted before paying.
The marathon has no guaranteed-entry or fast-runner standards table, no charity entry scheme found and no tour-operator allocation found. The Italian regulation describes a chip that must be returned at the finish, with a €20 charge if it is not. Fees are not refundable under the 2026 rules. Transfer and deferral terms for the next edition have not been published.
| Registration window (2027) | Marathon fee |
|---|---|
| To 31 December | €30 (about £26) |
| 1 January to 22 February | €35 (about £30) |
| 23 February to 23 March | €40 (about £34) |
| 24 March to 12 April | €50 (about £43) |
Fast runner standards
There is no guaranteed-entry or qualifying standard.
Marsala Marathon: official site →Race Weekend
Bib collection
There is no separate expo hall. In 2026, bibs and chips were collected in Piazza della Vittoria on Saturday 25 April from 15:00 to 19:00 and on Sunday 26 April from 07:00 to 08:00. Club captains could collect in bulk. Nothing in the rules describes a trade fair, merchandise stand or bag storage hall.
Saturday is the safer day. Collection on race morning is allowed, but it leaves under an hour before the start and any problem with a medical certificate will not be resolved in time. Bring photo ID, the entry confirmation and the documents named on the ENDU confirmation: FIDAL or foreign federation card, or RunCard and certificate. A foreign federation card needs the signed self-declaration. Whoever collects for someone else needs the organiser's proxy form.
The 2027 collection days, hours and venue have not been published. Expect the same square, because the organiser's 2027 pages repeat it as the start and finish, but check.
Getting to the start
Stay within walking distance of Piazza della Vittoria. The square is both start and finish, and the municipal order for 2026 restricted traffic and parking along the coastal route from 08:00 to 15:00. A hotel on the seafront or at the Stagnone could be cut off by the running corridor during that window.
In 2026 runners gathered in the square between 07:00 and 08:00 for an 08:45 start. The organiser's 2027 page gives 08:30, so plan to arrive early and confirm the time when the final rules come out. The square also holds the finish, which makes bag logistics simple, though the rules do not say how bags are handled.
There is no free race-day shuttle and no public transport included in the entry. Marsala railway station is about 1.4 km from the square, and Trapani-Birgi airport is roughly 15 km away. Sunday train and bus services are thinner than on weekdays, so arrive on Saturday and do not plan a Sunday-morning transfer.
The chip must be returned at the finish. Pacers, bicycle accompaniment and course-cutting are not allowed. The 2026 rules list refreshment at the finish; showers, changing rooms and massage are not described.
Nutrition on course
The 2026 rules promise intermediate refreshment points with sealed water bottles, plus mineral salts and fruit from 21 km, and a finish refreshment. The number of stations, their kilometre positions, the sports-nutrition brand, whether cups or bottles are used and the personal-bottle procedure have not been published.
Because the full course is two separate out-and-back legs, each leaves town without shelter. Water between the old town and the southern turnaround is the first reliable need, and the second leg along the lagoon is the one with the fewest runners and the longest gaps between aid. Carry gels or chews you have used in training, and treat any fruit or salt at the stations as extra, not as the plan. Bottle disposal rules are not described, so drop litter at the stations, not on the road.
Spectating
The best single spot is Piazza della Vittoria. It is the start, the finish and a crossing point at 21 km, so a supporter sees a runner three times without moving. Marathon runners pass it without stopping at halfway, so supporters should stand on the correct side of the half-marathon finish funnel.
A second position sits in the old town near Via Roma and Porta Garibaldi, an easy walk from the square, where runners pass at about 19 to 20 km on the return from the south coast. A third sits near the Mozia embarkation point at the northern turnaround, close to 31 km, but reaching it needs a car or taxi arranged in advance and the coastal road is closed in the window. Do not plan a car chase along the course.
The old town is compact enough to cover on foot, and the municipality publishes the road-closure order a few days ahead. The route does not enter Mozia island, so a boat trip is a separate afternoon activity, not a spectating option.
- Start in Piazza della Vittoria for the gun and the first kilometres
- Walk to Via Roma and Porta Garibaldi for the return from the south at about 19 to 20 km
- Walk back to the square for the 21 km crossing and the finish
Post-race food
The finish refreshment is the only food the organiser promises, so plan the first proper meal yourself. Piazza della Vittoria sits inside the old town, and the streets around Via Roma, Piazza della Repubblica and Via Garibaldi hold the restaurants and wine bars that serve local dishes: busiate pasta, fried fish and the sweet Marsala wine that gives the city its name.
Kitchens commonly close between lunch and dinner on a Sunday, so book a table for the early afternoon when you arrive, and carry something to eat in your bag for the walk from the finish. If you finish late, around the six-hour limit, many places will be on their afternoon break.
Where to Stay
Stay as close to Piazza della Vittoria as possible. The start and the finish are the same square, so a room in the old town removes the race-morning transfer and the post-race walk. The finish matters more than the start here, because the square is also the 21 km crossing and a tired runner has no shuttle to rely on.
Historic centre
The old town around Piazza della Vittoria, Via Garibaldi and Porta Garibaldi puts the start, finish, bib collection and the spectator spots within a short walk. It is the right base for a runner. Narrow streets restrict car access, and some roads close from 08:00 on race morning. Saturday evening is quiet.
Station side
Rooms near Marsala railway station help with train arrivals. The station is about 1.4 km from the square, so allow a walk of about 15 to 20 minutes.
South seafront
Rooms along the Lungomare Mediterraneo and the south coast road put the sea next to the window and the course outside the door. The same road is closed on race morning, so a driven transfer after 08:00 is unreliable.
Stagnone lagoon
Rooms on the lagoon road near the salt pans suit a longer holiday and a Mozia day. They sit on the second leg of the course, and reaching the start on the morning needs an early transfer.
The organiser refers entrants to the local accommodation association rather than offering an official hotel block, and no event-specific rates were found.
Recommended hotels
Listed as a historic property with antique furnishings in the old town. Confirm early breakfast before an 08:30 start.
Booking timeline
The race is small, so rooms do not sell out the way they do for city majors, but the historic centre has a limited stock of properties and April is the shoulder season for visitors to western Sicily.
Reserve a cancellable room in the old town as soon as the 2027 date is confirmed, and no later than the January fee band. Fees rise in tiers from €30 for entries before the end of December, so entering early is the main saving. Book flights into Trapani-Birgi, about 15 km from Marsala, or Palermo, about 100 km away, once the entry is confirmed. Flights to Trapani are fewer and fares rise close to the date. In race week, check the municipal traffic order, the rail and bus timetables for Sunday and any strike notices.
See & Do
Marsala's old town is compact, and every stop below is on or near the course.
Baglio Anselmi archaeological museum
The regional archaeological museum displays the remains of a Punic warship recovered off the coast. The course passes the building at about 41 km. The municipal page lists Sunday and holiday hours of 09:00 to 13:30, last entry 13:00. Check hours before planning a visit on race day.
Historic centre and Porta Garibaldi
The old town around the cathedral, Via Garibaldi and Porta Garibaldi is compact and mostly flat, with cafés and wine shops. The gate is on the course at about 20 km. A slow walk is the right use of the afternoon.
Stagnone salt pans and windmills
The lagoon north of Marsala holds the salt pans and windmills the course runs beside. A visit on foot or by bicycle on a separate day is easy and flat.
Mozia island
A short crossing from the Ettore e Infersa landing leads to the island and the Whitaker museum, which holds the Giovinetto di Mozia statue. See the itinerary for boat times and prices.
After the Race
The course turns near the historic Mozia embarkation point at about 31 km. The island is a short boat crossing away and is not on the route, so a post-race visit is covered in the excursions below. The race is on a Sunday, so recovery days start on the Monday.
A flat island walk among Phoenician ruins and a museum that holds the Giovinetto statue, reached by a shuttle boat that runs through the day. Salt pans and windmills line the shore on the way.
A working salt-and-fishing port with a flat old town, and a medieval hilltop town above it reached by cable car. A choice of an easy day or an ambitious one.
A harbour town with a Kasbah quarter and a museum built around an ancient bronze statue pulled from the sea. Compact and flat.
A base in Trapani for a day on Favignana, with a flat island circuit by bicycle and the former tuna factory. April means quiet shoulder-season services.