The Winter Olympics are back in Italy, hosted by the cities of Milan and Cortina exactly 20 years after Turin staged the Games in 2006.

Though both are cities in northern Italy, there were stark differences between the two global events.

One unique element of the Milan Cortina Opening Ceremony was its multi-city format, which allowed athletes competing in other locations to still participate in the ceremony and the Parade of Nations. Segments of the ceremony took place in Cortina, Livigno and Predazzo. The Turin Olympics featured a centralized Opening Ceremony at Stadio Olimpico, with most events held within the city, while some mountain competitions took place in the Alps. That structure was far less spread out than the Milan Cortina Games, which will stage events across much of northern Italy.

The Milan Cortina Olympics highlight aspects of Italian culture through a fashion-forward theme and artistic displays designed by Giorgio Armani. Milan’s reputation as one of the world’s fashion capitals was on full display. In contrast, the Turin Olympics showcased Italy’s passion for performance cars, featuring a Formula 1 Ferrari that performed donuts inside the stadium. The moment was especially memorable because it was a surprise, kept secret ahead of the ceremony. Two different aspects of Italian culture were presented in distinct ways, each equally memorable.

The Milan Cortina ceremony emphasized harmony and visual aesthetics, using lighting effects that made the stadium crowd resemble stars in the dark. Turin’s ceremony was faster-paced, more rooted in Italian history and leaned heavily into traditional cultural elements.

Milan Cortina also incorporated an element of pop culture, with Mariah Carey serving as the headlining act. The Turin ceremony instead focused on simplicity and cultural tradition. Carey paid homage to Italian culture by performing Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu, also known as “Volare,” following her song “Nothing Is Impossible.”

One key difference is that, while Turin opened and closed the Olympics at Stadio Olimpico, Milan Cortina will conclude the Games away from San Siro, with the Closing Ceremony set for the Arena di Verona. Built around 30 A.D. and still in excellent condition, the historic venue is expected to provide a memorable backdrop for the conclusion of the Olympics.

Despite the logistical differences and the 20-year gap between the two ceremonies, there were poetic parallels between the two events as well.

The Opening Ceremony for both the Milan Cortina Olympics and Turin Olympics were held in iconic stadiums with deep legacies within Italian sport. San Siro and Stadio Olimpico have each hosted major European soccer events, World Cup matches and more. Both are home to historic clubs, with Inter Milan and AC Milan playing at San Siro, and AS Roma and Lazio calling Stadio Olimpico home.

Also, both concluded with a powerful symbol of Italian sporting celebration: a performance of Nessun Dorma. The opera aria represents the beginning of a quest for triumph. In Turin, it was performed by Luciano Pavarotti, widely regarded as one of the greatest tenors in history. That ended up being his final public performance, as he died the following year. In Milan, the song was performed by Andrea Bocelli, often considered Pavarotti’s modern heir and one of Italy’s most acclaimed tenors. Bocelli also performed at the Turin 2006 Olympics during the Closing Ceremony.

Milan Cortina marks the third time Italy has hosted the Winter Olympics. The first came in 1956, when Cortina d’Ampezzo served as the sole host.