San Francesco Marathon
The Lowdown
The San Francesco Marathon is an annual road race held every November in Assisi, Umbria, weaving together sport and spirituality across towns tied to Saint Francis of Assisi: Assisi, Spello, and Bastia Umbra. Launched in 2023 and organized by the amateur running club Life Running Assisi, the event has grown into one of central Italy's signature marathon weekends, drawing more than 1,600 runners across its distances. The flagship 42.195 km marathon and 21.0975 km half marathon both start in Assisi and finish at the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli, following a largely flat, rolling course through olive groves and Umbrian countryside -- the same route used in the 2025 edition. Shorter options include a competitive and non-competitive 10K, a family-friendly 'Vieni con me' walk, and the dog-friendly 'Wolfy Dog Run' over 3 km. The 2026 edition takes place on Sunday, November 22, with a marathon start planned around 9:00 a.m. and a 6-hour-30-minute time limit. Entry fees rise in tiers as race day approaches, with online registration handled through the ICRON platform; bib pickup runs Friday and Saturday before the race at the Expo village near the finish. Italian athletes registered with FIDAL clubs must present a valid medical certificate, while other international runners sign a liability waiver. Registration for the 2026 race is open now.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Medium-sized race
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Good crowd energy
Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi
Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli
Spello historic center
Bastia Umbra
Umbrian olive groves
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Assisi, Umbria, Italy
IT
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Minimum age 20 for the 42K marathon, 18 for the 21K half marathon, 16 for the 10K
- Non-Italian runners without a club/federation affiliation sign a liability waiver instead of presenting a medical certificate
Required Documents
- Valid medical fitness certificate for FIDAL-registered Italian athletes and World Athletics-affiliated/Runcard runners
- Signed liability waiver for non-affiliated international runners
- Photo ID for in-person bib pickup
Entry Methods
- Online registration exclusively via the ICRON platform (www.icron.it); no pre-registration option
- Payment due within 72 hours of registering or the entry is automatically cancelled
- In-person bib pickup at the Expo village Friday-Saturday before race day
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Entry fees are non-refundable
Race bibs are personal and may not be transferred or exchanged between runners
No refunds if the event is cancelled for force majeure; organizers may instead offer a discounted entry for the following year's edition
Founded in 2023 to mark the Centenary of Saint Francis, pairing distance running with Franciscan spiritual and charitable themes
2026 marathon and half marathon courses repeat the 2025 route: flat and rolling, departing and returning to the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli
Bibs carry an integrated timing chip
Event proceeds support local charitable organizations
Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
Community Reviews
Learn from fellow runners and share insights that will help the next person toe the line.

