Heatwave reshapes Italian tourism as experts urge night-time visits

With temperatures touching 40C during Italy's latest heatwave, the country has placed over 20 major cities on red alert, the highest-level warning, according to The Local Italy. In response, travel experts are sharing advice on how to make the most of Italy during this extreme heat, from visiting supermarkets to taking night-time tours, the BBC reported on Tuesday.

The BBC's guidance comes as nearly all major Italian cities, including Rome, Milan and Naples, face red alerts, with 19 cities already affected by the weekend, the broadcaster reported. The advice is tailored to help visitors navigate the heat while still experiencing Italy's cultural offerings.

For the inland hill towns of Umbria, the heatwave presents a particular challenge. Unlike coastal resorts with sea breezes, towns like Perugia and Assisi sit on hilltops where temperatures can soar. The BBC's recommendations, including shifting sightseeing to the cooler evening hours, align with how many locals already adapt to the summer heat.

The BBC report, published as the heatwave intensifies, suggests that visitors should plan their days around the heat, using air-conditioned spaces like supermarkets and museums during peak afternoon hours and saving outdoor activities for the evening. This approach is increasingly relevant for the summer cultural calendar, which includes events like Umbria Jazz and the Spoleto Festival, both of which draw international audiences to the region in August.

The Local Italy reported that most of the country remains on red alert for heat, with temperatures hitting 40C in several cities. The drought conditions accompanying the heat have also led to water restrictions in regions across Italy, a development that affects both residents and the tourism industry that relies on the country's appeal.

The Guardian this week reported on the broader European heatwave, noting that south-eastern Europe faces an energy crunch, with Romania even using explosives to move a rock in the Danube to increase water flow for cooling a nuclear power plant. Such measures illustrate the severity of the conditions affecting the continent, and the adaptations now required of both residents and visitors.

For Umbria's fragile hill towns, the advice to embrace night-time tourism could offer a model for coping with the heat. Evening piazzas, already a staple of Italian social life, become even more vital as daytime temperatures make outdoor activity difficult. The region's festivals, too, may find their rhythms shifting later into the night, a change that could redefine the summer experience in inland Italy.