In Rome, the Pantheon will serve as the backdrop for a fencing marathon: on Saturday, September 12, 2026, Piazza della Rotonda will host the 16th edition of “A Fil di Spada,” the world’s largest inclusive fencing marathon, which will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with the grand monument serving as the backdrop for the bouts on the piste. It’s a sort of fencing festival open to everyone, with no invitation required: anyone, of any age, can participate and fence by bringing their own approved personal equipment, in an event that will bring together Olympic, Paralympic, and visually impaired fencers on the same piste. Participation in the event is open to all and free of charge, with no formalities required, and participants will be able to change at the Musumeci Greco Academy – House Museum, located just a few meters from the Pantheon, where guided tours for the public are also scheduled throughout the day.
The event, organized by the Accademia d’Armi Musumeci Greco 1878 in collaboration with the Italian Fencing Federation, was created with the goal of highlighting the beauty and appeal of this sport in all its inclusive dimensions. The event will be hosted by Master Renzo Musumeci Greco, the event’s founder and driving force, alongside Novella Calligaris, a legend of Italian sports. The event comes just a few days after Italy’s triumph at the 2026 World Fencing Championships held in Hong Kong—where the Italian national team dominated the medal count—and will once again take place in front of the colonnade of the Pantheon.
Over the years, “A Fil di Spada” has featured some of the greatest stars of Italian fencing on the piste, from Valentina Vezzali to Aldo Montano, including Elisa Di Francisca, Margherita Granbassi, and Bebe Vio Grandis, as well as numerous other illustrious figures in the sport. The event is, in fact, a non-competitive fencing spectacle unique on the global stage, capable of renewing a well-established tradition year after year.
The 2026 edition further enriches its program, placing even greater emphasis on the theme of inclusion: significant attention will be given to Paralympic fencing, both in its wheelchair form and in the category for visually impaired athletes, with the aim of fully highlighting the Italian Fencing Federation’s commitment to being a fully inclusive organization. The event, which enjoys the support of the Fondazione Roma, will feature over four hours of bouts across the three weapons of the discipline—epee, foil, and sabre— with the participation of numerous distinguished guests who will highlight how fencing is an integral part of our country’s history, culture, and tradition.
The initiative is also strongly supported by the president of the Italian Fencing Federation, Luigi Mazzone, who has previously participated in the event as an athlete (he was, in fact, a top-tier épée fencer, boasting an Italian national title and a World Cup podium finish, as well as two bronze medals at the Italian national championships and a gold at the World Masters Fencing Championships; just two years ago, he was selected for the Over-50 World Championships), and who considers events like “A Fil di Spada” a valuable tool for promoting the sport at the national and international levels. For the Federation, the event also follows in the footsteps of other initiatives that in recent years have helped promote fencing in some of the capital’s most iconic locations, as was already the case during the most recent edition of the Frecciarossa Olympic and Paralympic Italian National Championships, whose finals took place in the picturesque setting of the Pincio Terrace.
 |
| The Pantheon becomes the venue for a fencing marathon: “A fil di spada” is coming on September 12 |
Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.
IT
FR
DE
ES
CN
