The mayors of Verbania and Stresa talk about the deeper meanings of a day to remember
The most extraordinary thing about the passage of the Olympic flame across the length of Italy is that it has been a historic moment for all the places it went through. This is obviously also true of the Lake Maggiore locations – the Piedmontese side – which welcomed the torchbearers, who set off from Borgo Manero and went through Verbania, Baveno, Stresa and Arona, as well, on Wednesday 14 January.
The flame’s journey through the provincial capital was a matter of great satisfaction for Giandomenico Albertella, mayor of Verbania and President of the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola province: “The Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic flame’s journey through our area was an event of great symbolic value which goes well beyond the sporting dimension. It was a moment of unity and pride for our community, called on to play a centre-stage role in an event watched by the whole world. The flame embodies sport’s loftiest values: merit, respect, community spirit, dialogue betweens cultures and generations. These are values which speak to the young in particular and will leave a lasting legacy.” The involvement of schools, sports clubs, volunteers and the community as a whole shows our area’s ability to come together to take part in welcoming international events responsibly. Verbano-Cusio-Ossola is ready to showcase its landscapes, history and hospitality vocation in this extraordinary Olympic symbol.”
No-one was left unmoved by the occasion, partly because something even more unusual took place in Stresa: the Olympic flame took to the water in Verbano on board a piece of living boating history, the Piemonte steamship. Marcella Severino, Mayor of Stresa, tells the story, detailing the experience involved by local people and the institutions separately. “In a human sense it was truly unique. Watching the flame pass by from the lakeside promenade was hugely moving for me and all the people of Stresa. It is one of very few things capable of bringing all generations together, from the smallest children upwards, even though it was a mid-week event.” There’s nothing banal about this, considering the spirit of the people who live here: “We’re used to seeing lots of tourists on our streets, and most Stresa people are fairly reserved. But the flame, with the Olympic spirit it embodies, brought all the generations together and showed the city’s best side: its ability to bring everyone together to share this meaningful moment. It was an experience I didn’t expect to have, something I’ll remember for a long time to come.”
As we’ve said, the institutional impact was also profound: “As mayor I’m very grateful for this experience, with the spotlight it shone on the Piemonte steamship, the jewel in Navigazione Laghi’s crown. As an art nouveau city we are very fond of this historic boat. It was wonderful to see the idea of the steamship once again plying the waters on our lake come to fruition, taking the flame to Isola Bella, where it passed through Salone degli Arazzi and the Palazzo Borromeo gardens. I know that these are images which will travel around the world,” concludes Marcella Severino, “giving us lots of publicity. It was a great way to publicise the city’s image.”
FEDERICA CESARINI, THE TORCHBEARER ON BOARD THE PIEMONTE STEAMSHIP
The person chosen to carry the Olympic torch through Stresa and then to Isola Bella on board the Piemonte steamship was Federica Cesarini, Olympic rowing champion at Tokyo 2020 (together with Valentina Rodini) in lightweight double sculls. Carrying the Olympic flame on Lake Maggiore was a very meaningful experience for this Italian athlete: “It was an incredible thrill. The first time I saw the Olympic torch was in Turin 2006. For me it meant a desire to compete at the Olympics and that’s what I did, even winning a gold medal. Taking the flame across the lake on the Piemonte steamship was incredibly moving, as this is the lake I train on and which gave me the chance to get back to racing with the Olympics in mind.” Lightweight double sculls will no longer be an Olympic event from Los Angeles onwards and this is what persuaded Cesarini to specialise in beach sprint, a discipline which will be making its debut in 2028.
“The transport used, the Piemonte steamship, was thrilling and beautiful too,“ concluded the athlete. “On the return journey I stopped to speak to the onboard engineer to find out more about how the boat was made, because it is truly incredible”.
