The Venice Marathon
Amongst the many events that Venice arranges during all over the year, the Su e Zo per I Ponti and the Venice Marathon are those that offer participants to visit Venice in a more sportive way, running along its calli and campi discovering hidden but suggestive places and enjoying picturesque panoramas. But if the first one is a non-competitive competition the second one has all the elements to be considered a proper marathon. In fact, Venice marathon attracts many athletics such as Orlando Pizzolato, that won the New Work marathon twice, from Italy as well as from all over the world. At the beginning, marathon was idealized and organized to successfully mix together sport with a different and original way to interpret this marvellous city and its surroundings with their fascinating landscapes. The first time it took place, in 1986, counted just 716 participants but in these years, the number has largely increased.
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The way
The marathon is held over the official Olympic distance of 42 kilometres. The start is at Villa Pisani, along the Riveira del Brenta and the finishing point is in Venice at Riva Sette Martiri. Following the course of the river Brenta along the Riviera, athletics pass in front of the magnificent villas built by Palladio with their characteristic huge green gardens. Then the race reaches the centre of Marghera and Mestre to go back to Venice. To get to Venice participants run along the Ponte della Libertà made in white stones.