In the heart of November, when the cold begins to set in and the days all feel the same, Campobasso comes alive thanks to a special event: the “Su e Giù”, a non-competitive fun run now in its 53rd edition, which on November 15 will bring together athletes, families, and spectators, with no stopwatch or podium. Everyone wins, because the goal isn’t to finish first, but to share a moment of celebration and rediscover the city.
The idea was conceived in 1974 by Nicola Palladino, a philosophy student, coach, and the driving force behind the Gruppo Sportivo Virtus. He wanted to combine sports, culture, and the promotion of the historic center in an initiative open to everyone. Thus was born a race through the alleys of Campobasso, with no age or gender restrictions, which immediately won over the city’s residents. About 700 people participated in the first edition, “Up and Down the Old Town,” a surprising success that marked the beginning of a tradition still cherished today.
Over time, the race has evolved while retaining its original spirit. Since 1980, each edition has focused on a different theme—the environment, the rule of law, art—and the route has expanded from the initial 4 km to the current 7 km, allowing participants to explore most of the city.
The race always starts at the historic war memorial in Piazza della Vittoria. After the starting gun, runners pass through the Murat-era city center and enter the historic heart of the city via Porta San Leonardo.. Amid churches, palaces, and cobblestone alleys, the atmosphere evokes a bygone era. The route continues with its ups and downs, passing symbolic landmarks such as Viale del Castello, the school grounds, and the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate, before returning to the city center and ending in front of City Hall, next to the statue of St. George, in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II.
At the finish line, each participant receives a medal, a race packet, and a hot drink. But the real reward is personal satisfaction, the shared energy, and having breathed new life—once again—into Palladino’s dream: a city that walks together, rediscovering itself as a community.
The Su e Giù is not just a race: it’s a small collective journey, where strangers become fellow travelers, and social connection takes center stage once again.
Registration will be open from November 6 until 9:55 a.m. on November 15, 2026. For organizational reasons—and at the discretion of the Virtus Sports Group—registration may be closed even before the set deadline.