FAI Marathon: the marathon where you don't run, but in return you discover culture

There are those who do marathon running, and there is, however, also a type of marathon runner that is perhaps more congenial to us: the cultural marathon runner. Who does not run at all, on the contrary: the slower he walks, the better, because he can enjoy more the beauty and history of his surroundings. Palaces, ancient buildings, churches, theaters, gardens, parks. So, what strange kind of marathon runner are we talking about? But the one who participates in the FAI Marathon (www.faimarathon.it), the FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano) initiative to help Italians discover the cities where they live, and which this year reaches its third edition. It will be held on Sunday, October 12, in more than 120 Italian cities.

FAI marathon runners discovering the church of San Francesco a Ripa (Rome) in a previous edition - © Riccardo Musacchio

The FAI Marathon kit

But specifically what does the FAI Marathon consist of? Participants, who can register through this link with a participation fee of 4 euros (but it’s free from October 1 for those who join FAI), will walk a cultural itinerary in their city, guided by FAI volunteers who will provide historical and artistic information about the stops along the route. There will also be special guided tours at some of the stops. To participants, FAI will distribute a kit with a bag, bib, marathon itinerary, a free entrance ticket to one of the FAI-managed properties and a sticker to support the Remember to Save Italy campaign. Funds raised through the FAI Marathon will be used to enable FAI to continue its efforts to protect our country’s artistic and environmental heritage.

Cultural marathoners grappling with the FAI Marathon

From this year, then, the FAI Marathon will be enriched with a... contest: it is called #shotsofhappiness and participants will just have to tell their idea of happiness with a photograph. The first three classified photos will win a weekend in Florence, Rome or Naples (the winner of three days and two nights, the second and third of two days and one night), in 4-star hotels (superior class for those who win the first two places), with bed and breakfast, and dinners in typical restaurants. The fifth place winner will be able to enroll their family in FAI, will have an exclusive guided tour of one of the FAI properties open to the public, a publication and a package of typical products from FAI properties. The fourth will have all the prizes of the fifth, plus a monographic publication on Michelangelo.

On the FAI Marathon website you can find all the info you need, with the complete itineraries of all 120 cities (so find out if yours is there too: ours, Carrara, is on the list and also has a pretty nice route... !), departure times, short descriptions of the stops and whatnot, and if you click here instead you can access the #scattidifelicità contest page where you can also find the official rules. And, we recommend, if you decide to participate, don’t rush ;-)

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