VENICE, Italy — The Olympic flame on Thursday crossed through the romantic, lagoon city of Venice, where torchbearers glided on boats down the Grand Canal and across St. Mark’s Basin facing the famed Doge’s Palace in one of its most scenic passages ahead of the Milan Cortina Winter Games. The flame arrived near dusk in Venice’s Piazzale Roma, the main bus terminal for people arriving to the city. It crossed the Ponte delle Guglie in Cannaregio en route to the arched Rialto Bridge, where it was loaded onto a boat to traverse the Grand Canal toward the wooden Accademia Bridge.Francesco Lamon, an Olympic gold medal winning cyclist, was one of the torchbearers on Thursday.“It’s an indescribable emotion,” he told The Associated Press.Venice historically has served as a crucial nexus between Eastern and Western civilizations, which is evident in its Byzantine architecture and history in the trade of spices, silks and art. In the modern era, it is the capital of the Veneto region, which includes host city Cortina nestled in the Dolomites to the north. On a clear day, snow-capped mountains can be seen from Venice’s historic center.Popular ReadsAfter another foot passage, the flame will again embark on a boat to cross the lagoon to San Giorgio island before returning across St. Mark’s basin to St. Mark’s Square, where it will pass the historic Doges Palace and St. Ma …
