Since Friday, February 6, thousands of people with mud clinging to their shoes have made their way through Milan’s Sempione Park each evening. This steady stream of visitors is united by a common goal as the sun sets: To watch the Olympic flame shine beneath the Arco della Pace, one of the city’s many landmarks. “We came because we don’t live very far away. We watch the competitions on TV, but the cauldron and the stands nearby are our family’s weekend outing,” said Maria Rossi, who had traveled by train from Lecco, 50 kilometers away, on Sunday with her two sons, aged seven and nine. She thoroughly enjoyed the four-minute light show set to music. From 5 pm to 11 pm every hour, a multicolored lighting display enhances the sphere carving where the Olympic flame burns. The moment is brief but always well-received. Be prepared to elbow your way in for a spot.
The Lombard capital is Italy’s most cosmopolitan city, with one in five residents holding foreign nationality. With the Olympic Games taking place until February 22 and the Paralympics from March 6 to 15, Milan is becoming, more than ever, a global city. According to the Milan Chamber of Commerce’s research center, around 725,000 of the two million expected visitors to the event could take the opportunity to visit the region, resulting in a significant economic impact.
You have 70.31% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.