See images of Milan’s Olympic cauldron — a tribute to Leonardo da Vinci and the sun

The design of the two cauldrons where the Olympic flame will burn throughout the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics was inspired by the complex geometric knots created by Italian artist, scientist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci and the sun.

Described as “dynamic, vibrant and pulsating” by 2026 Italian Games organizers, the cauldrons are on display in the two cities jointly hosting this year’s Winter Games, Milan and Cortina.

In Milan, the cauldron is suspended within the Arco della Pace, a massive neoclassical arch built in the 1800s. The surrounding plaza and adjacent park, Milan’s largest, already attract plenty of locals and visitors.

But a day after the cauldrons was lit Friday night by Italian Alpine skiing legends Deborah Compagnoni and Alberto Tomba, the crowds were enormous.

Both cauldrons are set to remain accessible to the public throughout the Olympics.