Lake Maggiore Marathon 2026

You are about to run a marathon... magical 🤪

In November you're heading to Northern Italy for the Lake Maggiore Marathon, a charming sporting event starting in the picturesque town of Arona, in the heart of Piedmont 🧚. There, you will run among the silver reflections of the lake and the majestic mountains that dominate in the distance ⛰️. Believe us, it’s a whole different story from urban asphalt! 😍

Relax, close your eyes, and imagine a novel-like landscape 📔. The Lake Maggiore marathon offers you a unique course ☝️. It all begins in Arona, a small gem on the lakeside 💧. Built in ancient times among the cliffs of the Vergante Massif, today it's a true gateway to Lake Maggiore. You will then cross Meina, Lesa, Belgirate, Stresa, and Baveno, to arrive at Verbania 🌱. Whether you are signed up for the 10 km, the half-marathon, the 33 km, or the marathon, every kilometer is a living postcard: ancient villas 🏘️, small harbors 🎣, churches ⛪️, swans in the tranquil waters... And encouragements accompanied by melodious accents: "Forzaaa! Daiii!" (they won't say it better than here) 💪. For the half-marathoners, the finish line is in Stresa, right in front of the mythical Borromean Islands📍. For the tenacious marathoners, the route continues to Verbania. If the adventure intrigues you but you're still a bit too young, hold on to the dream: this race is reserved for... adults 😂. By looking up, you might see the imposing Sancarlone, located on Mount Arona 👀. This statue of the Italian archbishop Saint Charles Borromeo is 35 meters high ⬆️. And the most amazing thing? You'll be able to climb to the top of this statue and have a breathtaking view of Lake Maggiore 😲. But hey, that will be once you've finished your race 🙃.

And after 42 kilometers, what's next? 😎 All races start in the morning, leaving you plenty of time to visit the surroundings 🔎. Once you've crossed the finish line and put away your shoes, it's reward time: a good plate of pasta 🍝, a spritz in the neighborhood of Pallanza 🍹, or why not a stroll on the Borromean Islands from Stresa? For the curious ones, head towards Verbania to visit the Landscape Museum, or on a hiking in nature to the summit of Monte Mottarone 🥾. Note well: you can enjoy the largest weekly market on Lake Maggiore every Saturday, at the Market Square and Piazza Don Minzoni 🥕.

So, are you ready to fall in love with Italy? 🇮🇹