Red alert for 27 cities as fourth heatwave tests Florence's fragile stones

Italy is to place all of its 27 major cities, from Trieste in the north to Palermo in the south, under the highest heat alert as the fourth heatwave to hit the country this summer intensifies, according to the Guardian. The red alert covers every major urban centre, including Florence, where temperatures are edging close to 40C.

The alert, issued as the summer's fourth heatwave peaks, places the entire peninsula under the same extreme-weather warning. For Tuscany's capital, the timing is acute: August is the month of peak tourist volume, when the Uffizi and the Duomo draw their largest crowds of the year.

The Guardian's report notes the heatwave has been building for weeks, with little respite expected in the coming days. The red alert is the highest level of the Italian heat warning system, signalling a health risk to the general population, not just the vulnerable.