Ancient and Modern Olympics Converge at Fondazione Rovati in Milan

Fondazione Luigi Rovati in Milan has completely renewed its exhibition spaces to host a show linking ancient and contemporary Olympic culture ahead of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The exhibition traces the origins of the Games to classical antiquity, when competitions like running, long jump, horse racing, and wrestling were held, and the Olympic flame was lit at Olympia. It juxtaposes classical artifacts—ceramics, coins, jewelry—with modern objects such as the sinuous blue torch designed by Pininfarina, vintage posters, and athletes' gear. Highlights include the reconstruction of the Tomb of the Olympics from Tarquinia (520 BCE), moved for the first time outside the Parco Archeologico di Cerveteri e Tarquinia, featuring a chariot race and the gladiatorial Phersu scene. A painting by Mario Schifano titled 'La Tomba delle Olimpiadi' provides a contemporary dialogue. The Tomb of the Chariots is evoked through drawings by Carlo Ruspi. The show also displays ancient flasks, strigils, and coins that served as 'postcards' of the era, alongside modern ointments and medicines used by athletes. The exhibition underscores the enduring connection between past and present Olympic ideals, as revived by Baron Pierre de Coubertin in the late 19th century.