ROME - The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics organizing committee on Monday announced the complete route of the Olympic torch relay, which will traverse 12,000 kilometers across Italy from Dec 6 to Feb 6, 2026.

The relay will pass through more than 300 municipalities and feature celebrations in 60 cities, reaching all 110 Italian provinces.

The Olympic flame will be lit in Olympia, Greece, on Nov 26, and officially handed over to Italy in Athens on Dec 4. The relay will begin in Rome on Dec 6, before moving across all Italian regions, passing cities of art, rural towns, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and locations of historical significance.

"Each step of the relay will remind the world of sport's ability to build bridges and break down barriers," said Giovanni Malago, president of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Foundation.

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The flame will pass landmarks such as the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Milan's Duomo and the Grand Canal in Venice. It will also visit areas symbolizing resilience and renewal, including Amatrice and Naples' Scampia district.

The flame will see Christmas in Naples, New Year in Bari, and return to Cortina d'Ampezzo on Jan 26, 2026 - the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Winter Games opening ceremony. The relay will conclude on Feb 6 at Milan's San Siro Stadium.

Other stops on the relay will include an ascent to Punta Gnifetti on Monte Rosa (4,554 meters), a visit to the Marmore Falls, and a segment along the Amalfi Coast.