VENICE MARATHON FACTS

Date: Sunday, October 23, 2012 (start time: 9:20am)

Course type: Point to Point

Marathon start: in front of Villa Pisani, Stra, Italy

Marathon finish: Riva Sette Martiri, Venezia, Italy

Course overview: Start is located in Stra (a small country town about 25 km west of Venice), at the beginning of “Riviera
del Brenta”, the beautiful riverside area where rich and noble Venetians built their vacation mansions in
the 18th century.
The finish is in the historic centre of Venice, on the embankment named Riva Sette Martiri, in a scenic
position facing the lagoon.

The highlights of the course include Riviera del Brenta, with several 18th century mansions just next to the course (in particular the
impressive “Villa Pisani” next to the marathon start line).
Zattere, a 2-km-long embankment next to the Giudecca Canal, where athletes run close to the water.
Pontoon Bridge over Grand Canal, a 170-meters-long floating bridge which is built the night before
the marathon and dismantled the night after.
St. Mark’s Square and Palazzo Ducale, renowned Venice landmarks.
Finish line in Riva Sette Martiri, in the picturesque waterfront of St. Mark’s Basin.
The first half of the race develops in a typical countryside landscape, following the course of the river in
the “Riviera del Brenta”.

The marathon goes through the centre of Marghera and Mestre (i.e. the boroughs of the city of Venice
located on the mainland), runs for 3 kilometers inside San Giuliano’s Park (the largest urban green area
in Europe) and gets to Venice via the Liberty Bridge (a flat and straight bridge long just a little less
than 4 kilometers).
The race proceeds in the Venice port area and reaches the city centre for the last kilometers, which are
simply unique. Marathoners run next to the Giudecca Canal to Punta della Dogana, where they cross
the Grand Canal on a pontoon bridge, especially built for the race.
Passing by Piazza San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale, the marathon route gets to the finish line
located in Riva Sette Martiri.

Course difficulty: The Venicemarathon course is basically flat and fast. There are just a few difficulties, represented by 3-
4 short slopes (100 meters or so) between the 25th and 35th kilometre.
In the final part of the marathon route (last 3 kilometres), runners will face 14 little bridges over Venice’s
canals. Wooden ramps are put in place to prevent athletes from running on the steps.
There is no cobblestone on the course (apart from the last 100 meters before the finish line). In the final
3 kilometres the running surface will be mainly made of large rectangular stone slabs.
The course is entirely closed to traffic and marked every kilometer.

Weather:    average high: 15°C / 59°F  average low: 7°C / 44°F
Time limit: 6 hours
Participant cap: 6.500 entrants
Entry fee: 70,00 euros for international participants
Entry fee includes: • Results by SMS and e-mail
• Finisher’s commemorative medal
• Personal clothes transportation from start to finish area
• Pre-race transportation from Venice Tronchetto or Mestre to the start area
• Post-race transportation from the finish area to Venice Tronchetto, Mestre and start area

Race packet: Venicemarathon’s 2012 race packet will include a gadget from the technical sponsor and several gifts
from the sponsors.

Timing: Race timing will be managed by Timing Data Service using a revolutionary active transponder included
in the bib number.
Sensors along the course will record the actual time in which each athlete finishes the race.
Intermediate times will be also recorded at the kilometres: 5, 10, 15, 21.097 (half marathon), 25, 30, 35
and 40.

Exposport – Venice Marathon Village
The marathon’s expo (where athletes pick their bib numbers) is located in Venezia Mestre inside San
Giuliano’s Park (the largest urban green area in Europe). Exposport is open from Thursday until
Saturday.

Family Run
Family Run is a 4 km non-competitive run that takes place the day before the marathon. Family Run is
held inside San Giuliano’s Park in Venezia Mestre.
Anima la Maratona
Anima la Maratona is a music contest with more than 20 music bands located along the race course
that will entertain runners and spectators.

BASIC PACKAGE  3 NIGHTS VENICE OCT 26 to OCT 29, 2012

Rates are per person

VENICE MESTRE  HOTELS

Antony Hotel 4 starLarge modern international 4 star hotel, 215 rooms, Novotel Venezia Mestre Castellana is the ideal hotel for
business and leisure alike. Ideal for families with rooms for 2 adults and 2 children.
Strategic location with easy access to Venice Airport 10 km away, city centre and Mestre railway station 2 km away. Free
hotel shuttle service to and from Piazzale Roma/Venice.
Marathon reference point
Antony Hotel is at about 5 km from the Venice-Marathon Exposport
grounds (bib pick-up point).

Hilton Garden Inn - Near Expo 4 star
Just a few kilometres away from Venice Marco Polo international airport, brand new Hilton
Garden Inn is found at short distance from San Giuliano Park (Marathon Expo Village), which
offers a wide range of recreational activities from nature trails to jogging, cycling and walking
tracks.  Marathon reference point 300 meters from the Venicemarathon Expo

Alexander Hotel  4 Star
Hotel Alexander is a newly built hotel, located in Mestre near San Giuliano Park and 5 minutes
bus ride from Venice. Marathon reference point
Hotel Alexander is near the 26th km mark. 500 mt to the Venice- Marathon Exposport grounds (bib pick-up point)

Hotel Al Vivit  3 star
Hotel al Vivit, in the very centre of Mestre (Piazza Ferretto), is a building from the early
twentieth century, with 35 rooms and apartments complete with every amenity, overlooking
Piazza Ferretto, the best shops and a real “piazza” environment in Mestre.
The rooms are furnished in a classic style; bathrooms are totally restored, with shower stall,
complete with courtesy kit and vanity set. Venice is at easy reach in 15 minutes using public
transportation, with stops in the hotel surroundings.
Marathon reference point : Exposport in San Giuliano Park is 2 Km from the hotel. Direct buses
take you there and back, the bus stop is near the hotel.
 

VENICE HOTELS

Hotel Sant ’Elena – 4 stars
Hotel Sant'Elena is located on the east tip of Venice, just close to the Biennale Gardens and
the finish line of the Marathon. St. Mark’s Square is a 20 minutes stroll from the hotel along
scenic Riva degli Schiavoni. Also to be reached by “vaporetto” (water-bus): the vaporetto stop
is just 150 metres from the hotel. Marathon Reference Point:  A few hundred meters from the finish line.
NO PRE RACE DINNER INCLUDED

Amadeus - 4 stars
Hotel Amadeus is only five minutes on foot from the Santa Lucia Train Station, ten minutes
from Piazzale Roma, and three minutes from the stop of the water buses that travel the Canal
Grande to Rialto, to the Gallerie dell'Accademia, to Saint Mark's Square. The rooms are in
Venetian style renovated with a modern flair.
Marathon Reference Point:few hundred meters from Piazzale Roma (bus terminal), meeting
point for the transfers to the race start. Frequent bus service from Piazzale Roma to the Venice
Marathon Exposport grounds (bib and race pack pickup).

Hotel La Fenice et des Artistes 4 star
Hotel La Fenice et des Artistes is close to beautiful Theatre "La Fenice", has been for more than
a century the preferred hotel of artists. The Hotel is found in the heart of the city, yet located
away from the hustle and bustle of tourist circuits. All guest rooms are different from one another, each with its own specific charm, but all in a typical Venetian style. They all have private bathroom, with either a tub or a shower, hairdryer, direct dial phone line, Sat TV and safe.
NO PRE-RACE DINNER
 
Hotel Al Sole
A Sixteenth century noble residence, located in a pleasant area of Venice, at short walking distance from Piazzale Roma, the bus terminal of Venice and starting point of the Sunday transfer
to the start-line. Hotel Al Sole welcomes you amongst typical Venetian atmospheres and mod-ern comforts.
Located a few hundred meters from Piazzale Roma (bus terminal), meeting
point for the transfers to the race start. Frequent bus service from Piazzale Roma to the Venice
Marathon Exposport grounds (bib and race pack pickup


THE ABOVE PRICES INCLUDE!!!

ACCOMMODATION ON B&B BASE
· PRE-RACE DINNER WITH RUNNERS’ MENU ON SATURDAY NIGHT
· EARLY BREAKFAST ON SUNDAY MORNING (RACE DAY)
· TRANSFER SERVICE FROM VENICE (Piazzale Roma) TO THE START LINE IN STRA.
· RESERVED SEATS ON THE ARRIVAL STANDS FOR THE NON-RUNNERS
GUARANTEED MARATHON ENTRY (ADD $95)

AIRPORT TRANSFERS AVAILABLE $85 per car each way

OPTIONAL SIGHTSEEING TOURS
Walking Tour
Gondola Ride
Visit to Glass Factory

CANCELLATION CHARGES
Less than 61 days 50 % nonrefundable
Less than 45  days nonrefundablr

 

EXTENDED PACKAGES AVAILABLE

Reservations

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