Olympic Flame Passes Costa Smeralda During Savona Port Call

The Costa Smerelda cruise ship in dock with the Olympic flame in the foreground
Cruise Industry Europe
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Updated Published

Italy’s countdown to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered a memorable scene last week as the Olympic flame passed through the port city of Savona alongside a cruise ship.

As part of the nationwide Olympic Torch Relay marking the lead-up to the Winter Games, the flame moved through Savona just meters from the harbor where Costa Smeralda was docked. Flying the Italian flag, the LNG-powered vessel became an unexpected yet striking symbol of national pride.

The torch reached Savona on January 10 while Costa Smeralda was in port during a seven-day round-trip Mediterranean cruise. The moment was captured by local resident Federico Sforzini, who lives about 100 meters from the harbor. His photograph quickly gained attention for highlighting the intersection of Italy’s maritime tradition and its role as host of a major international sporting event.

For Costa Cruises, the scene carried particular significance. Costa Smeralda is one of the company’s most recognizable ships, and the sight of an Italian-flagged vessel alongside the Olympic flame on home soil underscored a strong sense of national identity.

The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Torch Relay is among the most extensive in recent Olympic history. Covering roughly 12,000 kilometers over 63 days, the relay began on December 4, 2025, in Rome, following the flame’s traditional journey through Greece.

The route will take the torch through all 20 regions of Italy, passing more than 300 municipalities and stopping in 60 cities. Along the way, it will visit many of the country’s most famous landmarks, including the Colosseum in Rome, the ruins of Pompeii, the canals of Venice, and the Alpine areas that will host several Winter Games events.

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