Winter Games! Winter sports. Photographs from the LIFE archives (1936-1972)

After more than 10 years, the International Center for Photography – Scaliger Excavations reopens to the public with an exhibition that celebrates winter sports and the Olympics, through the lens of one of the most influential magazines in the history of photojournalism.

The exhibition is part of the Cultural Olympic program of Milan Cortina 2026, serving as a lead-up to the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

An unprecedented exhibition titled "Winter Games! Winter Sports. Photographs from the LIFE Archives (1936-1972)", conceived for the reopening of an iconic cultural space in the city of Verona, brings together around one hundred photographs from the LIFE archives, many of which are unpublished, taken by masters in the field such as Alfred Eisenstaedt, George Silk, Ralph Crane, and John Dominis.

The exhibition pathway is divided into six thematic sections – Ice Lines, People, Experienced, Cortina 1956, Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936, and Fun out of Life – guiding visitors through various layers of interpretation. However, the visit also represents a rare opportunity to rediscover the Scaliger Excavations, which have become accessible following a lengthy restoration. With a single ticket, it is indeed possible to visit both the exhibition and the archaeological area.

The exhibition, designed by Giuseppe Ceroni and curated by Simone Azzoni, is promoted by the City of Verona and produced by Silvana Editoriale in collaboration with PEP Artists and Grenze Arsenali Fotografici.