Italy’s journey toward the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered a striking moment this week, as the Olympic flame passed alongside a cruise ship in the port city of Savona.

As part of a nationwide Olympic Torch Relay celebrating the countdown to the Winter Games, the flame moved through Savona just meters from the port where Costa Smeralda was docked. Flying the Italian flag, the LNG-powered cruise ship became an unexpected yet powerful symbol of national pride.

A Moment of Pride at the Port of Savona

The torch’s passage through Savona took place on January 10 while Costa Smeralda was in port during a seven-day round-trip Mediterranean itinerary. The iconic image of the flame passing the ship was captured by local resident Federico Sforzini, who lives just 100 meters from the port. His photograph quickly resonated the unique blend of Italy’s maritime heritage and its role as host of a global sporting event.

For Costa Cruises, whose flagship Costa Smeralda is one of the most recognisable Italian cruise ships the moment felt especially symbolic, an Italian-flagged ship witnessing the Olympic flame on home soil.

The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Flame route is one of the most ambitious in recent Olympic history. Spanning approximately 12,000 kilometers over 63 days, the relay began on December 4, 2025, in Rome after the flame’s traditional journey through Greece.

The torch will pass through all 20 Italian regions, traveling across more than 300 municipalities and stopping in 60 cities. Along the way, it will visit some of Italy’s most iconic landmarks, including the Colosseum in Rome, the ruins of Pompeii, the canals of Venice, and the Alpine regions that will host many of the Winter Games competitions.

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics mark Italy’s return as Winter Games host for the first time since Turin 2006. Events will be spread across multiple host cities and alpine venues, with Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo at the heart of the Games.