Florence protagonist of the Olympic path: torch passes through the Renaissance heart of Italy

December 11, 2025 - Florence (Tuscany)

After igniting excitement in Siena, the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic torch continues its evocative journey by landing in Florence, for a day that will combine sports, history, art and community spirit. On December 11, the city that was the cradle of the Renaissance will welcome the Olympic fire among its historic squares and riverbanks, igniting the excitement of citizens, tourists and sportsmen.

A journey between art and Olympic values

Florence, already a universal symbol of beauty and culture, will be transformed for a day into an open-air gymnasium, welcoming dozens of torchbearers chosen from among athletes, citizens, institutional and cultural representatives. The relay will start at dawn with a symbolic ceremony and continue along an itinerary that will embrace the city's most iconic places:

• Old Bridge
• Lordship Square
• Brunelleschi Cathedral and Dome
• Boboli Gardens and Pitti Palace
• Piazzale Michelangelo

At each stage, the flashlight will be charged with local stories, conveying the sense of belonging that only Florence can evoke.

The protagonists of the day

More than 120 torchbearers will be involved, including:

• Tuscan Olympic champions
• Volunteers chosen through public call
• Florentine artists, students and personalities
• One last special torchbearer, whose name will not be revealed until the evening itself, during the celebratory event.

From history to the future: the sustainability of the pathway

As with the other stops, the flashlight in Florence will be carried in an environmentally friendly way: made from recycled materials and powered by bio-LPG, the flashlight is rechargeable and designed to leave a light but meaningful footprint.

And after Florence? Stop in Livorno

Contrary to some previous rumors, the official route confirms that on December 12 the Olympic torch will stop in Livorno, before crossing the Tyrrhenian Sea and landing in Sardinia (Nuoro). Livorno will represent a strategic and symbolic passage: as a port city, it will act as a bridge between Tuscany and the island, testifying to the geographical and cultural unity of Italy.

A day to remember

December 11 in Florence will not just be a sporting stage, but an identity event. Each lit flashlight tells a story, each step of the torchbearers will be a shared memory, a spark of what Milan Cortina 2026 wants to represent: a nation walking together into the future, illuminated by its values and beauty.