Italy's air-conditioning boom: heat pushes past old resistance

Amid record-breaking temperatures across Europe, Italian households and businesses are increasingly installing air-conditioning units, according to The New York Times. The report describes a cultural shift in a country where many long resisted mechanical cooling, preferring shuttered windows, thick walls and the evening breeze.

The New York Times reported that the move toward air-conditioning has accelerated as heatwaves have become more frequent and intense, with Italians who once viewed cooling units as unnecessary or even unhealthy now treating them as essential equipment for summer survival.

The change is visible across the country, from urban apartments in Rome and Milan to hotels and restaurants along the coasts that depend on keeping visitors comfortable during the peak tourist season.