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For you runners out there...

Any tips on nice routes for early morning runs in Venice, Florence (duomo area), Siena, Vernazza, Rome (termini area)...thx

Posted by
3387 posts

Venice...From St. Mark's Square head out to the water past the Doges Palace and hang a left along the quay. You can run for quite a distance along the waterfront - early in the morning will be delightfully uncrowded and quiet!

Posted by
642 posts

I spent 3 weeks in Rome two summers ago and 3 weeks in Florence this past summer. As a marathoner I am always looking for places to run. In Rome, I enjoyed running along the river (I was staying in Trastevere). I also ran along Via del Corso then up to the Villa Borghese a few times. From termini I ran down Via Nazionale and just meandered. In Florence I usually ran from north of San Marco to the Ponte Vecchio then crossed and then ran Viale Galileo and Viale Michelangelo. I ran early and usually at the start I was the only person near the Duomo and crossing the bridge. Very peaceful. Siena I just went out and ran from the hotel down to the centro and would around the streets. I found many more runners this past summer in Florence than I have experienced in Rome (except in March during the marathon)

Posted by
11247 posts

In Rome, you can run from the Termini area to Villa Borghese in maybe 10-15 minutes (I can walk it in 20-25). Within the park there are endless possibilities. Be sure to orient yourself well before taking off in the park. I encounter a lot of lost runners on my morning commute a piedi through the park.

Posted by
11247 posts

Quirite, Villa Pamphilj while lovely is a bit of a trek from the Termini area. That is where the OP is staying and requested as a starting point.

Posted by
642 posts

I ran early in the mornings....there were very few people out in any of the cities when I ran. I beat the heat and the crowds. I didn't run the other because I did not want to have to take a bus to run.

Posted by
11613 posts

Good suggestions. Any city with a riverfront will be a good choice. Villa Borghese is a great place to run, you'll have lots of company. In Venice, you could cross the canal and run along the Giudecca. A friend of mine ran from the train station area to San Miniato al Monte in Florence every day.

Posted by
13808 posts

Also, ask the desk clerk at your hotel. We were seeking some green in Venice after a few days and mentioned this to the morning person at the reception desk. She whipped out a tourist map and drew her running route for us which was perfect! I think she also enjoyed answering a different question than the standard ones she usually answers.

Posted by
642 posts

You will be in Rome right before the marathon. Lots of runners will be there and the expo is a good one.