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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Colleen Barry

Olympic flame makes historic passage down Venice's Grand Canal

Italy 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics Flame - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The Olympic flame on Thursday crossed through the romantic, lagoon city of Venice, where torchbearers glided on boats down the Grand Canal and across St. Mark’s Basin facing the famed Doge’s Palace in one of its most scenic passages ahead of the Milan Cortina Winter Games.

The flame arrived near dusk in Venice's Piazzale Roma, the main bus terminal for people arriving to the city. It crossed the Ponte delle Guglie in Cannaregio en route to the arched Rialto Bridge, where it was loaded onto a boat to traverse the Grand Canal toward the wooden Accademia Bridge.

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