Mezza Maratona d’Italia 2027: Guide, Course and Everything You Need to Know

You can run the length of Italy’s greatest racing legacy. The Mezza Maratona d’Italia — Memorial Enzo Ferrari takes you from the gates of the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, through the private Fiorano Circuit (the test track where Ferrari engineers sign off on every car before it earns a road-legal plate), past the factory floors where Formula 1 cars are built and through a Wind Tunnel designed by Renzo Piano — and 21.097 kilometres later delivers you into the heart of UNESCO-listed Modena. No other race in the world gives you this access. Ferrari employees on an ordinary working day cannot walk this route.

The 2027 edition is the third running of an event that has become one of the fastest-growing road races in Europe. Launched in 2025 with 10,000 runners, the 2026 edition sold out the half marathon field at 7,500 entries and drew participants from 88 countries. What starts as a curiosity — run on a racetrack? Inside a factory? — turns out to be one of the most genuinely emotional and logistically smooth race experiences available at any price. And at €35 for the half marathon, the entry fee borders on surreal.

The course itself is built for speed. Point-to-point, running north from Maranello to Modena, with excellent road surfaces throughout and a net gradient that gently favours the runner, the Via Giardini stretch is as paceable a course as Italy offers. Dennis Kipruto ran 1:00:44 into a headwind in 2026 and still looked comfortable at the line. For recreational runners targeting anywhere from 1:30 to just under the three-hour time limit, this course gives you exactly what your training deserves — provided you can survive the Ferrari compound without going out like you’re setting a qualifying lap.

Whether you’re chasing a PB, looking for a European bucket-list race that doesn’t require a ballot, or simply want to run through a place that normally turns away everyone who isn’t in a fire suit — Maranello in March 2027 is worth the trip.

Race at a Glance

How to Register for the 2027 Mezza Maratona d’Italia

Registration opened on 14 September 2026 and runs until 28 February 2027 — or until the half marathon field is sold out. The 2026 edition sold out at 7,500 entries, so earlier is safer. All registration is handled through the official Njuko platform.

The 21km half marathon offers two entry categories, both priced at €35 (including the €2 service fee). Italian runners and international runners who are members of FIDAL, CIP, RUNCARD or World Athletics register under the competitive category. International runners residing outside Italy who are not members of any of those federations can register under the non-competitive category — same course, same distance, same experience, without needing federation membership. Italian athletes are not eligible for the non-competitive category.

Entry Fees — 21km Half Marathon

Entry Fees — 10km and 5km

What’s Included in the 21km Entry

Race bib with integrated timing chip, official race T-shirt, finisher’s medal (produced in Ferrari’s own manufacturing facilities), finisher diploma, bag deposit and transport from Maranello start to Modena finish, refreshment stations every 5km plus at the finish, medical assistance throughout the course, full race pack and insurance against civil liability.

What Makes the Mezza Maratona d’Italia Worth Running?

You Run Where the Cars Are Born

The opening 3.2 kilometres of this race take you through territory that money genuinely cannot buy. From the start line outside the Ferrari Museum, you enter the Cittadella Ferrari — the private company campus — and run to Piazza Schumacher, where Enzo Ferrari’s historic residence still stands. Then you enter the Fiorano Circuit, Ferrari’s private test track that has been the first outdoor proving ground for every Ferrari road and race car since 1972. You run alongside the pit boxes, through the wide circuit variant, and exit onto the Scuderia Ferrari campus where Formula 1 cars are assembled. You pass under the iconic Ferrari entrance arch, run down Viale Enzo Ferrari past the development buildings, and exit alongside the Wind Tunnel designed by Renzo Piano. In 2026 the course also incorporated the new Ferrari e-Vortex circuit adjacent to Fiorano. This is not a themed experience. This is the real thing.

One of the Fastest Half Marathon Courses in Italy

Once past the factory section, the course opens onto wide, smooth asphalt roads that run northward from Maranello to Modena with a net downhill gradient. The road surface throughout Via Giardini (SP3) — the main artery from Formigine into Modena — is in excellent condition with no meaningful unevenness. The direction runs south to north, meaning the sun never hits runners in the eyes regardless of conditions. The course is certified by FIDAL and is designed to allow every runner to chase their best time. In 2025, the inaugural men’s winner ran 59:20. In 2026, Kipruto ran 1:00:44 into a headwind and noted he expected to go faster without it. On a calm day this course can produce exceptional times.

€35 for All of This

For context, entry fees at comparable European half marathons typically sit between €55 and €85. The Valencia Half Marathon — widely regarded as the fastest half in Europe — costs €55-75 depending on when you register. The Paris Half is €55-85. Mezza Maratona d’Italia charges €35 for the headline race regardless of when you register, and that price includes Ferrari-manufactured medals for overall winners, a finisher medal and T-shirt, bag transport across the 21km from start to finish, pacers from 1:24 to 2:30, and FIDAL certification. It is the most underpriced ticket in European road running right now. That will not last forever.

The Finish Line Is in a UNESCO World Heritage City

The race finishes in Piazza Roma in the heart of Modena, a few metres from the Ghirlandina Tower and the Cathedral — together a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. Modena is also the city where Enzo Ferrari was born in 1898, making the finish both a sporting and a historical full-circle. On the approach through Via Farini and past Via Emilia you’ll run the same streets Ferrari walked as a young man before moving his operation to nearby Maranello. The backdrop at the finish is as elegant as any race in Europe.

Your Entry Fee Builds Something Lasting

Every edition of this race commits proceeds beyond operating costs to local sports infrastructure across the four host municipalities — Maranello, Fiorano Modenese, Formigine and Modena. In 2026 this included a multi-sport field at the Maranello Sports Park on the 10km route. For 2027 the Give-back Program extends to education and community projects. If you’ve ever wanted your race entry to mean something beyond a finisher T-shirt, this is a race that actually tracks where the money goes.

The Course — Kilometre by Kilometre

Km 0–3.2: Inside Ferrari

The race starts on Via Alfredo Dino Ferrari directly outside the Ferrari Museum — a wide boulevard that feels more like a ceremony than a race start. From the gun you head immediately into the Cittadella Ferrari. Before reaching the actual Fiorano Circuit, the route passes Piazza Schumacher where Enzo Ferrari’s historic home stands. Then you enter the Fiorano Circuit itself, running alongside the pit box and through the wide circuit variant before exiting into the Scuderia Ferrari area — the campus where F1 cars come to life. You pass under the famous arched Ferrari gateway, run down Viale Enzo Ferrari through the sports car development buildings, and exit past the Renzo Piano-designed Wind Tunnel.

Two technical points to know in advance: at approximately km 1, the entrance to the Fiorano track narrows and can cause brief bunching — don’t surge to get through, let it settle. Exiting the Fiorano circuit onto the racing department campus involves crossing a short platform of about 20 metres that is slightly rougher than the rest of the course. It’s easily manageable but worth knowing so it doesn’t catch you by surprise.

Km 3.2–5: Out of the Factory and Into Open Roads

Leaving the Ferrari Cittadella behind, the half marathon route turns left toward Formigine while the 5km and 10km runners turn right back into Maranello. The course exits through the outer edge of the Maranello industrial zone and joins Via Abetone Inferiore heading north. Roads here are wide and the atmosphere shifts from electric to calm — which is exactly what your legs need after the adrenaline of the first 3km.

Km 5: The Overpass — the One Real Test

At approximately km 5 there’s an overpass that is the single notable gradient on the course. It’s not long, it’s not steep, and on its own it would barely register. What it does is expose anyone who went out too fast in the factory section. If you’re carrying extra fatigue from an overcooked first 3km, this is where you’ll notice it. After the overpass, the course joins Via Giardini (SP3), a wide and very runnable road that carries runners most of the way to Modena.

Km 5–14: Via Giardini and the Long Run North

This is the workhorse section of the course — roughly nine kilometres along Via Giardini through the suburban and semi-rural stretch between Maranello and Formigine. The road is wide, in excellent condition, and runs with a very slight net downhill. There are no meaningful turns. Runners from the 2025 and 2026 editions consistently flag this section as where good pace management pays off. If you’ve saved yourself in the factory, this is where you build. If you haven’t, this is where March headwinds — the Po Valley’s windiest month — can turn a good race into a difficult one. The refreshment station at km 10 is well-stocked; take it.

Km 14–17: Formigine and the Castle

At around km 14 the course enters the historic centre of Formigine. The gradient levels out and the road surface changes briefly as you run through the town with its medieval castle — a dramatic backdrop in the middle kilometres of a race. There’s a refreshment point near here. This detour through the historic centre is short and the surface returns to smooth asphalt quickly. The crowd support in Formigine is warm and relatively dense for a smaller town.

Km 17–20: Back on Via Giardini Into Modena

From Formigine the course returns to Via Giardini and heads into the outskirts of Modena. The road here is wide and the gradient continues its gentle northward descent. At around km 17-18 you join Viale dei Muratori on the approach to Modena’s historic centre. Shortly after, on Viale Trento Trieste, you pass the historic Teatro Storchi auditorium and the house in Modena where Enzo Ferrari grew up — the same property used for location shooting in the 2023 Ferrari biopic. This is a stretch where crowd numbers begin to build.

Km 20–21.1: The Historic Centre and Piazza Roma

The final kilometre takes you onto Via Emilia, the ancient Roman road that bisects Modena. You’re now in the heart of the city, passing within sight of the Ghirlandina Tower and the UNESCO-listed Cathedral. The route turns through Largo San Giorgio and then into Via Luigi Carlo Farini before emptying into Piazza Roma. The finish arch stands in front of the Ducal Palace. The last 200 metres feel like every race finish should — crowd noise, open space, and something genuinely worth arriving at.

Race Weekend Schedule — March 2027

2027 schedule is projected based on the 2026 programme and confirmed 2027 FAQ details. Official schedule will be updated when published by the organiser.

Running Show and Packet Pickup

Weather in Maranello and Modena in March

March in the Modena plain is proper running weather — cool mornings, mild afternoons, and conditions that suit anyone aiming for a strong time. The one consistent wildcard is the wind. The Po Valley generates its own weather patterns and March is when they’re most unpredictable. In 2026 a notable headwind ran northbound along the Via Giardini stretch for most of the race. Dress in breathable layers you can remove if needed, and account for the possibility of 15-20 km/h wind when planning target pace.

Prize Money and Elite Athletes

Winning medals for the overall classification are manufactured inside Ferrari’s own production facilities — a detail that sets this race apart from any other prize structure in road running. The prize structure below is based on the 2026 edition. Confirmation for 2027 will be published closer to the race.

Past Results — Defending Champions

2026 Edition (March 29, 2026) — Men’s Results

2026 Edition — Women’s Results

2025 Edition (March 30, 2025) — Inaugural Results

Spectator Guide — Where to Watch

The course gives spectators three genuinely great moments — the Ferrari Museum start, the Formigine Castle midway point, and the Modena finish. Getting between them requires planning because road closures run from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM along the race route. If you’re driving, park at the finish in Modena and use the shuttle or train to reach Maranello before the race starts, then watch the runners come through the city to you.

Where to Stay for the Mezza Maratona d’Italia

The official recommendation is to stay in either Maranello (near the start) or Modena (near the finish). Both are well set up to receive runners. Maranello suits anyone who wants to minimise race-morning stress — you’re walking distance from the start. Modena suits anyone who wants better food, more accommodation variety, and the ability to walk to the finish area. The free shuttle service connects both cities on race weekend.

Book accommodation as early as possible. Race weekend in Maranello is one of the biggest events of the year in the region and the small town fills quickly. If you’re flexible on location, Modena gives you far more options and its train connections to Bologna make day-before arrival easy. Modena is also one of Italy’s great food cities — the home of traditional balsamic vinegar and a disproportionate number of Michelin-starred restaurants for its size. Post-race recovery has rarely had a better setting.

International Runners — Visa, Flights and Getting There

Visa Requirements

Getting There

A Short History of the Mezza Maratona d’Italia

The race takes its name and spirit from Enzo Ferrari — born in Modena on 18 February 1898, founder of Scuderia Ferrari in 1929 and of Ferrari SpA in 1947, and a man who spent his entire life in the stretch of Emilia-Romagna that the race now traverses. Ferrari died in Maranello on 14 August 1988, having never left the region that gave him and his cars their character. The idea of a road race running from Maranello to Modena — from the factory he built to the city that made him — has a logic that goes beyond marketing. It is, in some sense, the obvious tribute the Motor Valley had been holding in reserve.

The first edition took place on 30 March 2025, drawing 10,000 participants and becoming the most successful debut for a new European half marathon in recent memory. For the first time, Ferrari opened the private Fiorano Circuit to the general public — not as spectators but as runners — and the response confirmed what the organisers had hoped: that access to something genuinely exclusive, at an accessible entry fee, was a formula the running world had been waiting for. The 2026 edition on 29 March grew to 15,000 participants across all distances, with the half marathon selling out at 7,500 entries and drawing runners from 88 countries. RCS Sports & Events, the organiser behind the Giro d’Italia, Milan Marathon and other major Italian sporting events, brought the operational infrastructure that made a second edition feel as polished as events decades its senior. The 2026 course also incorporated the new Ferrari e-Vortex test circuit adjacent to Fiorano, deepening the factory access.

The Territory Project is the structural commitment that distinguishes this race from others in the category. Since the first edition, surplus proceeds from registration fees and partner contributions have been allocated to building and improving sports infrastructure in the four host municipalities — Maranello, Fiorano Modenese, Formigine and Modena. The goal is explicitly stated: to make sport more accessible and inclusive in the communities the race runs through, not just to pass through them. In 2026 this translated to a multi-sport field at the Maranello Sports Park, positioned on the 10km route. The 2027 programme extends the commitment to education and community projects. For a race that is only two years old, the institutional confidence this reflects is significant. It is already part of the Italian running calendar in a way that takes most races a decade to achieve.

How the Mezza Maratona d’Italia Compares