The 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will draw athletes and visitors to the towns in northern Italy that have been preparing for months to charm a global audience, investing in infrastructure and services to establish themselves as international destinations.
“Livigno has undergone a rebranding process aimed at leveraging the current attention on the town and shifting towards a more international audience,” said Luca Moretti, chief executive officer of Livigno Next, the official, strategic marketing and promotion agency for the Livigno municipality.
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“This rebranding effort was initiated with the 2027 milestone in mind, focusing on quality and enabling local businesses to upgrade, with the goal of sustaining the benefits of the Olympic spotlight and increasing the presence in foreign markets beyond the event itself,” he added.
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Here’s a roundup of where to stay, eat and what to see in Milan, Cortina, and Livigno. While the former offers a wealth of cultural and historical destinations, the latter two feature world-class ski resorts, making them must-visit spots for winter sports enthusiasts.
Aquagranda Livigno
The Aquagranda wellness and relaxation center is one of the largest in Europe. Designed by the late architect Simone Micheli, the facility is located in Livigno and spans 108,000 square feet.
The center features a Thermarium inspired by the wellness rituals of ancient Rome, completed by aromatic showers, a cold plunge pool, a thalassotherapy tub and multiple saunas. Additionally, it boasts a spa and beauty center, offering aesthetic services, a hair salon, solarium, and a range of facial treatments and massages.
Guests can also try the Kneipp path, a hydrotherapy treatment that involves alternating hot and cold water, and experience the traditional Finnish Aufguss ritual, where water or ice infused with essential oils is poured over hot stones, releasing aromatic steam for detoxification purposes.
Aquagranda Livigno
Via Rasia, 999 – 23041
aquagrandalivigno.com
Al Peršéf
Al Peršéf is a fine dining restaurant located within the Sporting hotel in Livigno. With seven tables that seat a total of 20 guests, the kitchen is led by chef Attilio Galli, whose culinary offerings blend mountain tradition with Japanese cuisine.
Guests can savor two tasting menus — “Habitat” and “Genesi” — featuring dishes such as veal sweetbreads with polypodium, celeriac, hay, and black walnuts; “Bottoni,” consisting of cauliflower, morels, hazelnuts, sansho, and wood sorrel, and the “Mountain macedonia” with pomegranate, currant, raspberry, red beet, fig, and oxalis. Alternatively, guests can opt for the “Libera-mente” menu, a pun on “freely” and “free the mind,” where the chef selects the dishes. The wine list boasts around 500 bottles, including Italian wines (at least half are from the Valtellina region) and international selections. The restaurant has been included in the 2025 Michelin Guide.
Al Peršéf
Via Saroch, 1272 – 23041
ristorantealperseflivigno.com
Faloria Mountain Spa Resort
This five-star hotel is located in Cortina, in the Zuel village, with a panoramic view of the Dolomites and facing the historic ski jumping ramp from the 1956 Olympics. The design was entrusted to Milan-based Flaviano Capriotti Architetti studio, which prioritizes sustainability. The hotel features zero-kilometer materials, including Dolomia stone from Val Belluna quarries and larch wood, typical of Ampezzano construction. Custom-designed furnishings were crafted by local artisans, while bespoke tiles for the pool, spa and fireplace feature Murano glass glazes produced by a small Veneto-based manufacturer.
Guests can enjoy the well-being spa area spanning 10,800 square feet, featuring a 25-meter semi-Olympic pool, caldarium, indoor and outdoor vitality pool, relaxation zone, and fitness center.
There is also the Faloria restaurant, led by chef Giovanni Gagliardo, who blends local tradition with Mediterranean cuisine. The restaurant seats 70 guests and serves dishes such as creamy codfish with grilled polenta, caper blossoms, and basil oil; fettuccine with pumpkin cream, bacon and pecorino cheese; and Black Angus steak with seasonal vegetables.
Faloria Spa Resort
Località Zuel di Sopra, 46 – 32043
faloriasparesort.com
IT Milano
IT Milano has reopened its doors. Located in the Brera neighborhood, it’s the third location in Milan of the IT brand, following ByIt and It Maison. The brand, created by Alessio Matrone and Danilo Caruso, is also present in international destinations like Ibiza, Malta, Porto Cervo, and Tulum. The restaurant is located on the basement level and the menu, curated by executive chef Romualdo Palladino, features a selection of meats cooked using different styles such as the Josper Spanish-engineered technique or the Japanese robata grill techniques.
The menu starts with snacks and premium cured meats like “Ibérico 100 percent Bellota” ham, followed by small shareable dishes like smash burgers and grilled ravioli and gyoza.
IT Milano
32 Via Fiori Chiari, 20121
it-restaurants.com
‘Robert Mapplethorpe. Forms of Desire’ exhibition
Palazzo Reale in Milan is presenting the “Robert Mapplethorpe. Forms of Desire” exhibition until May 17. Curated by artistic director Denis Curtis, the show is being promoted by Palazzo Reale and Marsilio Arte in collaboration with the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation in New York.
The exhibition is part of the 2026 Milano Cortina Cultural Olympiad, a program promoting Olympic values through culture, heritage and sport.
Focusing on Mapplethorpe’s aesthetic research, the exhibition features over 200 works, tracing the evolution of Mapplethorpe’s visual language through themes like portraits, self-portraits, flowers and nudes. The retrospective is the second stop of a three-city tour, following Venice and preceding Rome’s Museo dell’Ara Pacis, running from May 29 until Oct. 4.
Palazzo Reale
Piazza del Duomo, 12 – 20122
Tel. 02-88-46-5230
palazzorealemilano.it
Milan’s 1985 Snowfall Exhibition at the Excelsior Hotel Gallia
The Excelsior Hotel Gallia in Milan, part of the Luxury Collection hotel chain, is celebrating the mountain theme with culinary and art initiatives.
The terrace of the hotel has been transformed into an urban chalet, featuring details such as leather seating, tartan blankets, themed cushions, and a selection of accessories inspired by winter, from skis to snowshoes. The dishes included in the menu go from strudel, hot chocolate, and fondue to platters of cured meats and cheeses, alongside other traditional alpine specialties.
Until the end of March, it will host a photo exhibition showcasing Milan’s 1985 major snowfall. Curated by Milanese photographer Virgilio Carnisio, it features images capturing everyday life amid the snow.
The photographs turn snow into a narrative and symbolic element. The series is drawn from an archive of over 100,000 images, primarily focused on Milan, with additional shots from the Valsesia region and international travels. The entire collection is preserved by the Archivio Fotografico Italiano located in the Lombardy region, which safeguards, studies, and promotes Carnisio’s work globally.
Excelsior Hotel Gallia
Piazza Duca d’Aosta, 9 – 20124
marriott.com