The 38th stage of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Torch Relay started in Borgomanero, where the community welcomed the Flame with warmth and participation, transforming the passage of the sacred fire into a moment of shared celebration. ​​From here, the convoy reached Verbania, on the western shore of Lake Maggiore, with its beautiful villas with gardens and lush parks. ​​A particularly emotional moment was the passage to the Borromean Islands, an authentic jewel of Lake Maggiore, where the Olympic Flame passed through one of the symbolic places of Italian culture and history, in a setting that combined beauty, baroque architecture and nature.
The Journey then continued to Baveno, with its long tradition of stoneworking, a testament to ancient knowledge that dialogues with the present, and then to Arona, the birthplace of San Carlo Borromeo, where the Flame was welcomed by citizens and visitors overlooking the lake, in an atmosphere of great participation.
In the late afternoon, the convoy reached Varese, the “garden city”, which has always been a reference point for Italian sport, from rowing to cycling. ​​Here, the public had the opportunity to experience and see one of the most powerful symbols of the Games up close: the Olympic cauldron, lit for the occasion by the last torchbearer of the day.
Making the day even more special was the participation of some exceptional torchbearers ​who brought with them different but complementary stories and values. ​​These included Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri and basketball coach Andrea Meneghin, as well as Paralympic hockey champion Alessandro Andreoni.
A hand-to-hand handover that transformed the relay into a collective story, capable of uniting different territories, people and generations. ​​The Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relay thus continues its journey, bringing with it the energy of the places it passes through and looking ahead to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.