Suvereto Run - Sagra del Cinghiale e dell'Amicizia

The Suvereto Run is the running race of the Sagra del Cinghiale e dell'Amicizia, the big autumn festival of Suvereto, a medieval village in the Val di Cornia in the province of Livorno. Founded in the late 1960s and run by the Ente Valorizzazione Suvereto, the local association that promotes the village, the festival spans several weekends between late November and 8 December. The race takes place on one Sunday morning of the programme, amid stalls, concerts and kitchens serving wild boar in every possible form.

The organisers have not yet published full details of the race format. At the last edition the course measured about 9 km, and the start has traditionally been given mid-morning from Piazza Vittorio Veneto, at the entrance to the historic centre. Timing is by chip, and online registration includes a goody bag and refreshments. As the village is built on a hillside above the Cornia plain, climbs are never far away: the race suits regular runners as well as visitors who come for the festival, and it is worth checking distance and elevation once the rules are released.

Suvereto is one of the most striking villages on the Tuscan coast. Its cobbled lanes climb towards the Rocca Aldobrandesca, the fortress that crowns the village, passing the town hall with its loggia, the cloister of San Francesco and the Romanesque church of San Giusto at the foot of the village. The village's name recalls the cork oaks that once covered the surrounding hills, now shared between Mediterranean scrub, olive groves and vineyards; the local reds even have their own appellation, Suvereto DOCG.

The festival turns the historic centre into one large celebration. Food stands run by volunteers serve traditional Tuscan game dishes, while the streets fill with craftspeople, musicians, roaming performers, exhibitions and children's workshops. The highlight is the historical parade, which brings the village's medieval past back to life along with the charter of liberties granted to the community. Running in the morning and spending the afternoon in these lanes is the most natural way to enjoy the event.

Suvereto lies in the hinterland of Piombino, a few kilometres from the coast, and can be reached by road from Venturina Terme. Festival days draw large crowds, so it is best to arrive early, park on the edge of the village and walk to the start area.