Italy’s Winter Olympics are stunning from space

Known as the Milano Cortina Games, the 2026 Olympics are spread across a wide area rather than centered in a single city. Events are taking place at multiple sites throughout northern Italy, including Milan, Bormio, Livigno, Anterselva, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Predazzo, Tesero and Verona.

Alpine Venues From Above

In the cloud-free image, the upper portion is dominated by the peaks and valleys of the Alps, where many of the competition venues are located. The mountainous terrain stands out clearly, making it easier to see how the events are distributed across the region. Viewers can click on marked circles to pinpoint the exact locations of these venues.

To the northeast is Cortina d'Ampezzo, the town that gives the Games part of their official name. Often referred to as the "Pearl of the Dolomites," Cortina sits within the dramatic Dolomite mountain range, which is also recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site. The town is well known as a winter sports destination and previously hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956.

Milan, Lake Garda, and Verona

The opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics will take place at San Siro Stadium in Milan. In the satellite image, the stadium appears as a gray area just below the Alpine region in the lower left portion of the frame. Milan is Italy's second-largest city after Rome, and its metropolitan area stretches across much of Lombardy and into eastern Piedmont.

Toward the center of the image, the deep blue waters of Lake Garda are immediately noticeable. With a surface area of 370 sq km, Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy and ranks as the third largest in the Alpine region.

Just east of Lake Garda lies Verona, the city selected to host the Olympic closing ceremony, which will conclude two weeks of competition. Verona is known for its well-preserved historic architecture, including the famous Arena, a circular Roman amphitheatre that has contributed to the city's UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. On March 6, the Arena will also serve as the venue for the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Winter Games, marking the 50th anniversary of the first Paralympic Winter Games.

Venice Along the Adriatic Coast

At the far eastern edge of the image, in the lower right corner, another iconic Italian landmark comes into view. The crescent-shaped Venetian lagoon glows in shades of turquoise, revealing the network of islands that form the floating city of Venice along the Adriatic coast.