Epica dell'Acqua 2026: 100 km on foot across the Po Delta, with two stages through Porto Tolle
From 16 to 18 October 2026 the non-competitive stage run returns, crossing the Venetian Delta from south to north. The first two days take place in our municipality: here is the programme, and where to stop for a bed and dinner a few minutes from the route.
Some events bring people into the Delta; others put the Delta into the legs of everyone taking part. Epica dell'Acqua is the second kind. One hundred kilometres on foot over three days, with no stopwatch and no ranking, along levees, white roads, pine woods and fishing lagoons: it starts from the southernmost branch of the Po and climbs north to the Adige. The fourth edition is scheduled for Friday 16, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October 2026, and the first two stages run entirely through Porto Tolle. We are in Ca' Tiepolo, in the centre of the municipality, just a few minutes from both starting points.
What Epica dell'Acqua is
It is not a race, it is an experience: that is how Alberto Marchesani, runner and organiser with ASD Gli Epici of Adria, describes the event he created. Runners and walkers share the same route, each at their own pace, with a generous time limit (six hours per stage) and refreshment points roughly every eight kilometres. The route is almost entirely flat, but the Delta makes itself felt in other ways: wind, very long horizons, light changing on the water. Over the years the event has attracted participants from across Europe, also thanks to its closeness to Venice, and Fondazione Cariparo donates bibs to athletes with disabilities so they can live the experience too.
The three stages in 2026
| Day | Stage | Start | Finish | Km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 15 October | Meet-up and bib collection | Rifugio di Gorino Sullam, Taglio di Po | — | — |
| Friday 16 October | La bonifica | Pontoon bridge | Ca' Bonelli farm | about 32 km |
| Saturday 17 October | Le valli | Boccasette beach, Porto Tolle | Isola di Albarella | about 33 km |
| Sunday 18 October | Il mare | Albarella | Porto Caleri | about 30 km |
Thursday 15 October – Meet-up and bib collection at Rifugio di Gorino Sullam, Taglio di Po.
Friday 16 October – Stage 1 La bonifica, about 32 km. The route starts from the pontoon bridge and runs between long levees and the straight roads born from land reclamation, reaches the island of Polesine Camerini and skirts the Sacca degli Scardovari lagoon, with the fishermen's stilt huts suspended over the water. Finish at the Ca' Bonelli farm, home to the travelling village. This is the stage that feels most ours: it passes just a few kilometres from the hotel.
Saturday 17 October – Stage 2 Le valli, about 33 km. Start from Boccasette beach, again in Porto Tolle, then north through the Delta between fishing valleys and lagoons. Those who choose the full package spend the night on Isola di Albarella.
Sunday 18 October – Stage 3 Il mare, about 30 km. From Albarella to Porto Caleri, between valleys, pine woods and beach: the grand finale on the Adriatic.
Three ways to take part
- Full Experience (449 euros): three stages, travelling village, overnight stays and meals included; the organisers take care of everything.
- Solo Corsa (159 euros): you run the three stages and have lunch with the organisation, but sleep and dine where and with whom you choose. It is the option designed for people coming with family or friends, or for anyone who wants a real bed and a fish dinner.
- Solo Terza Tappa (49 euros): the Sunday stage from Albarella to Porto Caleri.
Places are limited and registration is through the official website. Prices and rules should be checked there: they may change.
Where to stay for the Porto Tolle stages
If you have chosen Solo Corsa, or you are accompanying someone who is running, Albergo Italia is the most convenient base for the first two days: we are in Ca' Tiepolo, on the municipality's main road, about 10-15 minutes by car from Friday's start and from Boccasette beach. Fifteen simple, clean rooms, early breakfast for those leaving at dawn, parking, bicycle storage. For groups or families there are also Alloggi Centrale, six rooms a few steps from the hotel. Practical advice: the weekend coincides with the arrival of companions and with autumn in the Delta, so booking early is wise.
Where to eat after the stage
After 32 kilometres on the levee, the right dinner is the one the Delta has always made: mixed fry from the lagoon, spaghetti with clams, seafood risotto, eel for anyone who wants to understand the territory on the plate. RistòItalia is open every day for lunch and dinner, and if you arrive late from the stage a message is enough. Those running on Friday can also have breakfast and a workday lunch with us before the start.
Eel of the Po Delta: the dish, the place, the festival
For companions: what to do while the others run
The Epica route is also an excellent itinerary for those who do not run: by bike (rental at the hotel) the Sacca degli Scardovari levee fills an afternoon, and with Delta Escursioni you can follow the water by boat to the mouths of the Po. The Pila lighthouse, the fish market, the lagoon at dawn: the runners' refreshment points are also the places to photograph.
On 16 October we will be on the levee cheering, and in the evening in the dining room serving the fry. If you pass through Porto Tolle running, stop at least for a coffee.
