La Grande Via – Aspromonte X Trail 2026: trail running in Cittanova

Area evento – Villa Comunale «Carlo Ruggiero» · Cittanova, Costa Viola, Calabria

31 October 2026 – 1 November 2026

La Grande Via – Aspromonte X Trail is the first edition of a trail running race between Cittanova, Molochio and the Zomaro plateau in Aspromonte National Park, organised by the ASD Zomaro Outdoor Experience sports club. On Saturday 31 October 2026 runners are welcomed at the Uliveto Principessa Resort to collect race packs, attend the technical briefing and taste local produce; on Sunday 1 November at 8am the Epic 40K (about 40 km and 1,700 m of climbing) and the Origins 10K (about 10 km and 500 m) both start from Cittanova. In mid-October the official shop lists entry fees of 40 euros for the 40K and 20 euros for the 10K; runners need a sports club membership and a medical certificate. The sources mention no tickets for spectators.

Two races in Aspromonte National Park: Epic 40K and Origins 10K

La Grande Via – Aspromonte X Trail makes its debut in 2026 with two races, both starting from Cittanova at 8am on Sunday 1 November. The Epic 40K is the main event: a loop of about 40 km with roughly 1,700 m of elevation gain, almost entirely off-road (the rules put it at 98% unpaved), on footpaths, mule tracks and forest roads. The time limit is 9 hours 30 minutes; at the Cavallica time gate, at km 30, anyone passing after 3pm must carry a head torch.

The Origins 10K covers about 10 km with around 500 m of climbing and is aimed at newcomers to trail running or anyone after a shorter distance; its time limit is 3 hours 30 minutes. Both races are for adults only. According to the organisers, the name comes from “La Grande Via” (The Great Way), the route through nature and history that inspired the event.

Weekend schedule: 31 October and 1 November

Saturday 31 October is welcome day. At the Uliveto Principessa Resort, on provincial road SP1 just outside Cittanova, runners complete their registration and pick up bib and race pack; the technical briefing, covering the courses, rules and practical information, takes place there too, and the organisers offer a tasting of local produce. Times will be announced on the race website and social media.

On Sunday 1 November everyone meets at the event area in Cittanova, where registration and race pack collection are also open; at 8am the Epic 40K and the Origins 10K set off together. The rules place the start and finish on Via San Rocco, opposite the square of the same name, while the course description mentions the avenue of the Villa Comunale “Carlo Ruggiero”, the public park right next to it. The organisers point out that the schedule is still provisional.

The course: from ancient olive groves to the Zomaro beech woods

The Epic 40K drops from the town centre to the Serra stream, crosses a grove of centuries-old olive trees and from km 5.5 tackles its first steep climb, zigzagging over rock up to trail 222 of the National Park. At km 9.5 it reaches the San Trabus viewpoint, then the Zomaro plains with their waterfalls (km 12) and the small Zomaro lake (km 15), among beech and pine woods, with three staffed checkpoints at km 16, 18 and 20.5 and an aid station at Villaggio Zomaro at km 22.

The descent leads back to the Serra stream; at km 30 the route joins the national XC mountain bike circuit in a chestnut wood, and at km 34.5 it reaches the highest point, Monte Cucudo. The Via Crucis path then drops to the large Cross, with views over the Gioia Tauro plain, the Aeolian Islands and Sicily. The Origins 10K shares the final section: chestnut wood, Monte Cucudo (km 6.2) and the Cross (km 7.25). GPX tracks are on the website.

Registration, fees and requirements

Entries are made through the official shop: after paying, you fill in the entry form and email it to info@zomaroexperience.it with ID, medical certificate, membership card and payment receipt. Your place is confirmed only once the race office has checked the documents. In mid-October the shop lists 40 euros for the Epic 40K and 20 euros for the Origins 10K, discounted from 60 and 30 euros; the rules say fees vary according to when you sign up.

Runners must hold a valid membership with an Italian sports federation or a CONI-recognised sports body: if you do not have one, you can join the ASD Zomaro Outdoor Experience club for a membership fee. The 40K requires a sports medical certificate; for the 10K it is best to check the requirements with the race office. The fee covers bib, race pack, timing, medical cover, aid stations roughly every 6 km, a finisher medal and a pasta party. No refunds are given from 1 October.

Mandatory kit, safety and race rules

For the Epic 40K the rules require a visible bib, a charged phone with the organisers' number saved, a GPS device or smartphone able to read the track, trail shoes, a personal water supply and reusable cup, a waterproof or windproof jacket, a survival blanket, a whistle, food reserves, a small first-aid kit and a head torch. For the Origins 10K you need bib, phone, suitable shoes, water and cup, jacket and survival blanket. Poles are recommended but not compulsory.

The race is plastic-free: aid stations hand out no bottles or disposable items. Medical staff, volunteers and the Alpine and Cave Rescue service are on the course; the route is marked with tape and arrows, but every runner must follow the official GPS track. Some sections cross roads open to traffic, such as the SP1, SP32 and SP36. The race goes ahead in bad weather as long as safety conditions allow.

Getting to Cittanova and the Zomaro plateau

Cittanova sits at about 400 m above sea level on the slopes of Aspromonte, looking out over the Gioia Tauro plain. From the A2 motorway, take the Gioia Tauro exit and follow provincial road SP1, the former SS111 Gioia Tauro–Locri road, across the plain to Cittanova. From the Ionian coast, follow the SS106 to Locri and then the same SP1, which climbs into Aspromonte via the Piani della Melia. The Zomaro is a mountain area about 7 km from the centre of Cittanova, on the Melia plateau.

The Gioia Tauro–Cinquefrondi railway, which used to serve Cittanova, has been suspended since 2017; public transport is provided by Ferrovie della Calabria buses. The sources do not mention dedicated parking. The race website lists partner accommodation offering a reserved rate to participants, to be requested when booking; you can also browse holiday rentals.

Cittanova, the Zomaro and the memory of Spartacus

Cittanova was officially founded on 12 August 1618, when Girolamo Grimaldi, Prince of Gerace, announced the “Nuovo Casale di Cortoladi”, later known as Casalnuovo; the current name dates from 1852. The earthquake of 5 February 1783 destroyed the town. Its best-known landmark is the Villa Comunale “Carlo Ruggiero”, a park built at Ruggiero's expense and donated to the town in 1880, with a botanical garden of about 2.5 hectares; it is listed as a national monument of historical and natural interest. Also worth a look: the Chiesa Matrice of San Girolamo, the Rosary sanctuary and the 1730 Fontana dell'Olmo.

The Zomaro, covered in beech, holm oak and fir, lies along the old routes between the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas. Research cited by the organisers links these places to the final chapters of Spartacus's slave revolt and the legions of Marcus Licinius Crassus in the 1st century BC. For places to eat or stay, see businesses in Cittanova.

Frequently asked questions

When is La Grande Via – Aspromonte X Trail 2026?

Saturday 31 October 2026 is for welcome, race pack collection and briefing; both races start from Cittanova at 8am on Sunday 1 November.

Which distances are on offer?

The Epic 40K (about 40 km and 1,700 m of climbing, 9 h 30 time limit) and the Origins 10K (about 10 km and 500 m of climbing, 3 h 30 time limit). Both are for adults only.

How much does it cost to enter?

In mid-October the official shop lists 40 euros for the Epic 40K and 20 euros for the Origins 10K, discounted from 60 and 30 euros. The fee covers bib, race pack, timing, aid stations, finisher medal and pasta party.

How do I register?

Buy your entry in the shop on lagrandeviaaspromonte.it, then fill in the entry form and email it to info@zomaroexperience.it with the required documents. Registration is confirmed once the race office has checked them.

Do I need a membership card and a medical certificate?

You need a membership with an Italian federation or CONI-recognised sports body; if you have none, you can join through the ASD Zomaro Outdoor Experience club. The 40K requires a sports medical certificate.

Where are the start and finish?

In Cittanova, on Via San Rocco opposite the square of the same name, next to the Villa Comunale “Carlo Ruggiero”. Saturday's race pack collection is at the Uliveto Principessa Resort on the SP1.

Do spectators have to pay?

No: the sources mention no tickets for spectators. The start and finish are in the centre of Cittanova.

Is a head torch compulsory?

For the Epic 40K, yes: anyone passing the Cavallica gate at km 30 after 3pm must have one, and the rules advise carrying it from the start. The race is plastic-free, so bring your own flask and cup too.

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