From the mainland to the lagoon, the The Olympic flame arrived in the historic center of Venice yesterday. It was there forty-sixth Italian stage of the great Journey of the Flame of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic GamesA route that, over the course of two months, crossed all 20 regions and 110 provinces of the country. The torchbearers paraded between Piazza Ferretto in Mestre and Piazza San Marco in Venice, passing through the Grand Canal and San Marco basin aboard the Serenissima, accompanied by gondolas and rowing boats.
In the Venetian stage to carry the torch to the gondola, waiting at Rialto, was Antonio Fantin, Paralympic swimming champion, who started the water relay with the Serenissima as the protagonist. On the flagship of the boats of the Regata Storica, in this stretch of the route the torchbearers were Amedeo Tessitori, captain of Reyer and Olympic champion in Paris 2024 with the national basketball team, and Gianluca Busio, vice-captain of Venezia FC, also an Olympic footballer in Paris two years ago.
An evocative procession of Venetian rowing boats escorted the Flame to St. Mark's Basin, before making its final journey by land from the Arsenal to the heart of the city. The last torchbearer arrived in a crowded St. Mark's Square. Sandra Truccolo, Paralympic archery athlete. She had the honor of lighting the brazier, surrounded by applause and a greeting from Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro.
(Photo credits: Venice City Council press office)
