Palermo, Dec. 15, 2025: Olympic torchlight illuminates Sicily

Palermo is ready to embrace the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Flame on Dec. 15, 2025, the fifth day of the passage to Sicily after Nuoro (Dec. 13) and Cagliari (Dec. 14). A day charged with symbolism, emotion and community value, exalting territorial identity and national unity.

An unprecedented national journey

The path of the Torch, christened. "The Greatest Journey", will cross the entire Italian boot in 63 days, with 60 official stops and more than 12,000 km traveled. The Palermo stop is part of the Sicilian segment that also touches Agrigento, Syracuse and Catania between Dec. 15 and 18.

Planned route in Palermo

The flashlight will travel through striking scenery, transforming the city into a stage of sports and memory:

• Departure in the morning from Politeama Square or the Massimo Theater
• Transit between Ruggero Settimo Street, the Quattro Canti, Vittorio Emanuele Street.
• Arrival at the historic Pretoria Square or the English Garden area, the scene of the official ceremony

Along the way, it will be possible to admire the flame among symbolic places such as the Cathedral, the Ballarò Market and the privileged view of Pilgrim Mountain.

The protagonists of the relay race

Over 10,000 torchbearers will carry the Flame throughout Italy: for Palermo, about 10-12 torchbearers selected from:

• Young local female and male athletes
• Volunteers and students
• Representatives of Sicilian cultural communities
• A final, surprise celebrity torchbearer will carry the flashlight to the light of the final brazier

A city in celebration: between celebration and community

Palermo will experience a day of collective celebration, with widespread cultural and sporting events:

• Folk performances, live music and multimedia installations
• Olympic-themed children's workshops
• Sports corners in squares to promote emerging winter disciplines
• Information booths on Milan Cortina 2026, with focus on sustainability, inclusion and responsible tourism
• Not to be missed:

• La Cathedral of Palermo, a UNESCO heritage site, with its fusion of Arab-Norman, Gothic and Baroque styles.
• The Palace of the Normans and the Palatine Chapel, authentic jewels of Byzantine mosaics.
• The striking Four Songs, the beating heart of the old town, and the bustling Ballarò Market, where tradition and daily life come together.
• A walk to Pilgrim Mountain, for a breathtaking view of the gulf, or a visit to the English Garden, one of the possible points on the torch route.

What to eat absolutely:

• The classic bread with spleen (pani câ meusa) for an authentic street food experience.
• Le arancine (not arancini!), especially those with butter or meat.
• A portion of sfincione (the typical flatbread) or a stigghiola (roasted innards) for the more daring.
• And to close: a slushie or a cannoli freshly filled at a historic bakery.

The next Sicilian stages

After Palermo, the Torch will continue south:

• Dec. 16: Agrigento
• Dec. 17: Syracuse
• Dec. 18: Catania

These stages will strengthen the link between sports and the territory, involving the entire island in a path of national sharing and participation

On December 15, 2025, the city of Palermo will write a new page in the history of the Winter Olympics: a moment of unity, culture and participation. The Torch will not only be a symbolic passage, but an opportunity to show the world the warmth, beauty and vitality of Southern Italy. The Olympics unites: and Palermo will remind us of this with the authentic light of the Olympic Flame.

Taking advantage of the passage of the Olympic Flame in Palermo on December 15 is also a unique opportunity to discover the historical, cultural and gastronomic wonders of the city.