Catholic Italy's Olympic host cities offer different access for Muslim worshippers

The AP reports Milan's Al-Wahid mosque is hosting weekly iftars and evening prayers during Ramadan, while Cortina and nearby mountain towns have fewer permanent prayer facilities so some Muslims travel to Brunico or use improvised spaces.

This year's Winter Olympics and Paralympics are taking place in Italy while Muslims across the country are observing Ramadan. Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo are the two host areas, and they present contrasting access to places of worship. Milan has established Islamic centres, including the Al-Wahid mosque near Navigli, which is hosting iftars and evening prayers. In the mountain host area and nearby towns, permanent mosque space is more limited and some people travel to find suitable prayer rooms. Key details: - Milan's Al-Wahid mosque has been officially recognised as a place of worship since 2000 and is holding weekly gatherings through March 14 that include iftar meals and evening prayers. - Imam Yahya Pallavicini told the AP that sporting and cultural events can help reduce prejudice and support interfaith contact; Al-Wahid welcomes guests from local institutions and other faith communities on Fridays. - A 2025 ISMU report estimates nearly 400,000 Muslims live in Lombardy, the region that includes Milan, with large communities from Morocco and Egypt and others from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Bosnia. - In and around Cortina d'Ampezzo, residents and visitors described challenges finding formal prayer spaces; some travel to Brunico, where a rented room draws around 120 people for Friday prayer and where halal shops and butchers are available. - Athlete residential villages include interfaith prayer rooms, but those rooms are not accessible to the general public during the Games. Summary: Milan offers established mosque facilities and interfaith iftars that are running through much of the Olympic and Paralympic period, while the mountain host area around Cortina has fewer permanent worship spaces, leading some people to travel to Brunico or use improvised rooms. The situation highlights differences in local infrastructure and community arrangements; gatherings at Al-Wahid are scheduled through March 14 and availability in the Cortina area remains limited for the public.