Venice joins red alert as fourth heatwave grips Italy

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, the Guardian reported on Wednesday. The red alert comes as temperatures in some areas edge close to 40C, according to the newspaper's Rome correspondent.

For Venice, the alert adds a new layer of strain to a city already contending with record tourist numbers and the environmental pressures of the lagoon. The red warning, which applies to cities including the Veneto capital, signals extreme conditions that pose health risks particularly to the elderly and vulnerable residents who remain in the historic centre.

The heatwave arrives as the city's narrow stone streets and sun-baked piazzas trap warmth well into the evening, offering little respite to those without air conditioning in centuries-old buildings. Foreign visitors accustomed to cooler northern summers face a demanding urban environment where water fountains and shaded porticoes become essential survival infrastructure.