Runners start · local time — Single start on Saturday at 3:00 pm, in waves of 500 runners every 10 minutes
The Passatore is a 100 km road ultra from Florence in Tuscany to Faenza in Emilia-Romagna.
It leaves Piazza del Duomo at 3:00 pm on Saturday, releasing runners in waves of 500 every 10 minutes,
and the first climb, up to Fiesole, comes almost immediately.
From there the route passes Borgo San Lorenzo and crosses the Passo della Colla, 913 m above sea level and the highest point on the course.
Total elevation gain tops 1,500 m, and since you usually cross the pass in the middle of the night,
running it by the light of your headlamp is a distinctive experience.
After Casaglia and Marradi, the road comes down out of the mountains onto gentler ground,
then runs through Brisighella into the square in Faenza on Sunday morning.
The race began in 1973 and reached its 51st edition in 2026, so local residents and volunteers turn out in force.
Finishers get three bottles of Romagna wine, and multiple finishers receive a commemorative ceramic award.
About 3,500 runners take part each year, and the race sometimes doubles as the Italian 100 km road championship.
It's also a popular choice for a first 100 km.
Because the Fiesole climb comes right after the start, pacing yourself early is key.
Borgo San Lorenzo, Passo Colla and Marradi are the three official intermediate checkpoints, and each offers massage and snacks.
For many runners, the view across the Romagna plain at daybreak, after a whole night on the road, is the moment that sticks.
