The Race
| Next Race Date | Sunday 21 February 2027 |
|---|---|
| Course type | Point-to-point |
| Registration | Open entry online |
| Ballot opens | Not applicable |
| Start | Viale Matteotti, Salsomaggiore Terme, 09:30 in 2026 |
| Finish | Piazza Verdi, Busseto |
| Total finishers | 416 (2026) |
| Avg race-day temp | To be Confirmed |
| Cutoff time | To be Confirmed |
| Free race-day transport | Return bus from Busseto to the start |
| Course certification | FIDAL certified 42.195 km |
History
The Verdi Marathon links the spa town of Salsomaggiore Terme with the villages of Giuseppe Verdi's lower Parma plain, and it is organised by Parmarathon ASD. All four distances start together in Salsomaggiore and finish in different towns: the 9.6 km at Fidenza, the half marathon at Fontanellato, a 28.9 km race at Soragna, and the marathon at Busseto, the composer's town. Each year's race takes an opera as its theme. The 2026 race honoured Il Trovatore, and the next one is announced as La Traviata.
The numbering of the editions suggests a late-1990s start, but the founding year is not documented here. The race was not run in 2021, and the 2022 edition was also cancelled and moved to 2023, so the count does not describe an unbroken run.
On 22 February 2026, 416 runners finished the marathon. The half marathon had 919 finishers, the 28.9 km race 456 and the 9.6 km race 331. Marco Masini of CUS Bologna won the men's race in 2:39:35, 23 seconds ahead of Andrea Bonici, and Francesca Corno of Monza Marathon Team won the women's race in 3:04:04.
The course
The marathon starts in Viale Matteotti in Salsomaggiore Terme, in the hills above the Po plain, and runs north-east on quiet roads. It passes Fidenza at about 9 to 10 km, Fontanellato at about the half marathon, and Soragna at about 28 km, then continues through open farmland to finish in Piazza Verdi in Busseto.
All the races start together, so the field is large at the start and thins as each shorter race peels off at its finish town. The marathon runners carry on alone for the last 13 km or so, through countryside with no towns to shelter them from February wind.
The chart falls from about 159 m at the start to about 40 m on the plain, 116 m in the first 26 km at 0.4 per cent on average, and stays flat from there. The route follows rural roads and town streets, and is certified over 42.195 km.
Kilometre by kilometre
Kilometre positions are approximate to about a kilometre and come from the route file; replace them with the 2027 map when it is published.
Km 0 to 10: Salsomaggiore to Fidenza. The race starts at 09:30 in 2026 in Viale Matteotti, with the start area open from 09:00. The first kilometres leave the spa town by Via Parma and the Salsomaggiore-Bardi road and drop out of the foothills at 1 to 2 per cent, from about 159 m to about 80 m by Fidenza at 8 to 9 km, so the pace feels easy and the temptation is to go too fast with a big field around you. Hold back. The 9.6 km runners finish at Fidenza at about this point, so the field thins noticeably.
Km 10 to 21: Fidenza to Fontanellato. The road runs across the plain on quiet country roads, passing Via Martiri delle Carzole at 11 and 12 km, Strada Parola at 15 and 16 km and Priorato at 17 to 21 km. This is open farmland, and wind is the main variable, because there is nothing to break it. The half marathon finishes at Fontanellato at about 21 km, with its castle in the town.
Km 21 to 30: Fontanellato to Soragna. The field is small now, and the marathon runners are among the few still going. The route passes Paroletta at 22 to 25 km and reaches Soragna at 26 to 29 km. The 28.9 km race finishes at Soragna, close to km 29. Past this point there is no crowd and no shorter race to follow.
Km 30 to 42.195: the run to Busseto. The last 12 km are the part the shorter races never cover. The country is flat and open, through Castellina San Pietro at 31 to 34 km and Madonna Prati at 36 to 38 km, with farms, fields and long straight roads, and in February the light can be low and the air cold. Water, a steady stride and a plan for the wind matter more here than pace. The route reaches Busseto at about 35 km and then loops round it by Frescarolo at 40 and 41 km. The finish is in Piazza Verdi in Busseto, in front of the town's theatre.
Bags need to be marked for Busseto, not for a shorter finish, so check the sticker colour at the start. After the finish, a bus returns runners to Salsomaggiore.
The shared start drops out of the foothills towards Fidenza. The field is large and the road falls, so hold back.
Quiet country roads across the plain, open to wind. The half marathon finishes at Fontanellato.
The field thins and the 28.9 km race finishes at Soragna. The marathon runners carry on alone.
Flat farmland with no shelter. Finish in Piazza Verdi.
Course Map
The map shows a recent edition's route, since the organiser has not published the 2027 map. Tap a marker for the start, finish and the finishes of the shorter races, and scrub the slider or press play to move the orange marker along the course with the elevation profile beneath it.
Pacers
A 2023 rules document listed marathon pacers for these finish times. They are not confirmed for 2027; ask at bib collection. Paces per kilometre are computed from 42.195 km.
| Target time | Pace per km |
|---|---|
| 3:00 | 4:16 |
| 3:15 | 4:37 |
| 3:30 | 4:59 |
| 3:45 | 5:20 |
| 4:00 | 5:41 |
| 4:15 | 6:03 |
| 4:30 | 6:24 |
| 5:00 | 7:07 |
A 9.6 km race, a half marathon and a 28.9 km race start together with the marathon in Salsomaggiore Terme and finish in Fidenza, Fontanellato and Soragna. The field thins as each peels off, and the marathon runners carry on alone for the last 13 km or so.
Plan for a cold February morning on the Po plain. The start is at about 09:30 in a hill town, so the first kilometres can be near freezing, and the open farmland later in the race gives wind no shelter. Tights or shorts with a long-sleeved top suit most runners, with gloves and a hat for the start and a throwaway layer you can drop in the first 10 km.
Fog is common on the plain in winter and rain is possible. A thin waterproof in the bag helps if the forecast is wet, and bag deposit is available at the start, marked for Busseto. Check the forecast the week before and decide on a layer then. A dry top and warm clothes in the bag matter more than usual, because the finish is in a square in a different town, and you will wait for the return bus.
Entry
The individual 2027 entry fee and the registration platform were not found. The organiser's club offer for groups of at least ten runners is €40 per person until 31 December, €50 until 31 January and €55 until 18 February. At about €1 to £0.858, those are about £34, £43 and £47. These are group prices and are not what an individual pays. Club Supermarathon rates are separate.
The 2027 rules are not published. For a runner from abroad, the paperwork is the important question: an Italian race normally needs a FIDAL or RunCard membership and a medical certificate for athletics, and some races offer a non-competitive route for foreign runners. Which applies here is not confirmed, so read the 2027 rules before entering and do not rely on rules from earlier years. Book accommodation after you have a confirmed entry. The race has not been reported as selling out.
Fast runner standards
There is no guaranteed-entry or fast-runner scheme.
Verdi Marathon: official site →Race Weekend
Bib collection
The 2026 race guide places start-area services in Salsomaggiore Terme, with bib collection before the Sunday start. The 2027 expo address, days and hours were not found, so details will be published in the athlete guide closer to the race.
Bring photo ID and the confirmation. If medical documents must be shown, confirm the deadline and whether forms must be uploaded first. Collect the bib on the day before if the 2027 programme allows, because a 09:30 start leaves little slack on race morning.
Getting to the start
The marathon starts in Viale Matteotti in Salsomaggiore Terme at 09:30 in 2026, with access to the start area from 09:00. All the distances start together, in one seeded merit grid. A runner staying in Salsomaggiore walks to the start.
Leave the bag in the truck marked for Busseto. The shorter races finish in other towns, so a bag in the wrong truck ends up in the wrong place. After the marathon, a shuttle bus runs from Busseto back to Salsomaggiore. The organiser's 2026 guide listed the return buses, but the shuttle page showed maintenance text, so check the 2027 times, the booking terms and the last bus before you commit.
The organiser describes Salsomaggiore station as close to the town centre, with Fidenza about 10 to 15 minutes away on the branch line. Sunday trains are sparse, so check the first departure before relying on one. Road closures, strikes and the old-town traffic restrictions can change the plan, and a taxi is a sensible back-up.
Nutrition on course
The 2027 station kilometres, drinks and food were not found. Treat the course as one where you carry your own fuel.
The last 12 km after Soragna are alone on open farmland, where a gel taken at about kilometre 30 is worth more than the same gel taken in a city race. Take water at every station, even in the cold, and carry gels you have already trained with. Check the athlete guide at bib collection for the station map and the product list.
Spectating
Piazza Verdi in Busseto is the simplest single position, because it is the marathon finish and sits in front of the town's theatre. A spectator has to get there independently, since the event shuttle is for runners.
Fontanellato and Soragna are optional places to see the field on the way. The half marathon finishes at Fontanellato and the 28.9 km at Soragna, so both towns are busy mid-morning and the marathon runners pass through them, but the public transport on a rural Sunday is thin and road closures are likely. A hire car or taxi is the realistic way to move between them.
- Go to Piazza Verdi in Busseto before the first marathon finishers
- Watch the finish and the awards
- Return by taxi, shuttle or car
Post-race food
Busseto sits in the lower Parma plain, a region known for cured pork and cheese. Ask for culatello, a cured ham from the Po plain, with torta fritta, the local fried bread, and a glass of the local sparkling red. Check opening days, because small restaurants in Busseto often close one weekday and may take reservations on race Sunday.
A bus takes runners back to Salsomaggiore after the finish, so allow time for a meal before it leaves, or eat in Salsomaggiore afterwards.
Where to Stay
Stay at the start. All distances start in Salsomaggiore Terme at 09:30, and the finish is in Busseto, so the question is how you reach the start and how you return.
Salsomaggiore Terme
The spa town is the practical base. The start is in Viale Matteotti, hotels are close, and the station is near the centre. The town has a long thermal history and a famous spa building, which makes it a good place for a recovery day afterwards. Most hotels are close enough to walk to the start.
Fidenza
Fidenza is the rail junction, with mainline connections and a short branch line to Salsomaggiore. It suits a runner arriving by train, but check the Sunday first train to the start.
Busseto
Busseto is the finish and Verdi's town. It suits a companion who will wait at the finish, but a runner staying here needs to reach the start in Salsomaggiore early on Sunday, which means a car or a taxi.
Soragna and Fontanellato
Both are small towns with castles and suit shorter-distance companions more than marathon runners.
Parma
Parma has the largest choice of hotels and the airport, and it adds an early rail or road transfer to the start. It is a good choice for a night or two after the race.
The organiser lists Parma airport about 30 km from Salsomaggiore, Milan Linate 110 km, Bologna 130 km and Milan Malpensa 160 km. These are distances, not journey times or flight availability.
Recommended hotels
Named on the organiser's hotel page. Ask about early breakfast for a 09:30 start and the walk to the start.
Named on the organiser's hotel page. Check the rate and the cancellation terms.
Booking timeline
The club fee steps up on 31 December and 31 January, which suggests entry prices rise through the winter, so enter early. Individual 2027 prices have not been published in the sources found.
Book a refundable room in Salsomaggiore once the date is firm, which is Sunday 21 February. A small spa town has rooms to spare in winter and the race has not been reported as selling out. Work out the return journey before you commit to fixed onward travel: the shuttle from Busseto is the key piece, so confirm it once the 2027 details are published.
See & Do
Distances are straight-line from the finish in Piazza Verdi, Busseto, except where noted. Check winter opening hours.
Piazza Verdi and Teatro Verdi, Busseto
The finish square is in front of the town's theatre, named for the composer. Check the theatre's visiting days and times before going, because small-town museums often close on Mondays.
Verdi's birthplace at Roncole Verdi
The house where Verdi was born stands in the village of Roncole, near Busseto. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:30 to 12:30 and from 14:30 to 17:00 (last admission), and a full ticket is about €5 (approximately £4.30). It is closed on Mondays.
Palazzo delle Terme Berzieri
The spa building in the town centre was completed in 1921 and inaugurated in 1923, with ceramics and paintings by Galileo Chini and an eclectic design with towers and a double staircase. It is a short, flat walk from the start area. Check opening hours and whether the baths take day visitors.
After the Race
Race day is Sunday 21 February, so Monday 22 February is the first free day. Many small museums in Italy close on Mondays, and the Verdi birthplace museum does, so the Busseto trip is best on Tuesday.
A 1920s thermal palace with ceramic towers, a double staircase and a spa that takes day visitors, an easy first day after the race.
The finish town on a quiet day, with the theatre, the composer's birthplace at Roncole and a lunch of cured ham.
A food city with a cathedral, a baptistery in pink marble and cured ham and cheese on every menu.
Porticoed streets, two leaning towers and the most famous pasta in Italy, reached by an easy train from Parma or Fidenza.