ITALY: A heat wave is sweeping across Italy forcing residents and tourists in Rome to head for the shade and seek a brief respite making use of the cool water flowing from the hundreds of fountains in the city
Record ID:
858788
ITALY: A heat wave is sweeping across Italy forcing residents and tourists in Rome to head for the shade and seek a brief respite making use of the cool water flowing from the hundreds of fountains in the city
- Title: ITALY: A heat wave is sweeping across Italy forcing residents and tourists in Rome to head for the shade and seek a brief respite making use of the cool water flowing from the hundreds of fountains in the city
- Date: 20th June 2012
- Summary: ROME, ITALY (JUNE 19, 2012) (REUTERS) SCORCHING SUN HITTING PIAZZA NAVONA FOUNTAINS IN PIAZZA TOURISTS CARRYING UMBRELLAS TO SHADE THEM FROM SUN WOMAN DRINKING FROM BOTTLE OF WATER FOUNTAINS GROUP OF TOURISTS DRINKING WATER UNDER UMBRELLAS WOMAN WITH UMBRELLA DIPPING HAND INTO FOUNTAIN WOMEN DRINKING FROM BOTTLE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH TOURIST EVA SAYING: "It has been incredibly hot these days. We haven't been able to see the Roman forum, the Caracalla baths, nothing, its just been too hot, we have just been drinking water all day. Only at night it becomes a little bit more cool." VARIOUS SPANISH STUDENTS CROWDING AROUND A SMALL WATER FOUNTAIN PEOPLE WETTING T-SHIRTS AND HATS IN FOUNTAIN (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN TOURIST CALLUM SAYING: "In Australia where I am from it gets much hotter than this. It gets up to 45 degrees but I suppose in Europe yes (it is hot), France was a lot colder than this." VARIOUS OF WOMEN DRINKING FROM WATER FOUNTAIN IN PIAZZA VENEZIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA ELIZABETH SAYING: "Oh we don't like it but if you want to come to Rome you have to put up with it in the summer." WOMAN WASHING HANDS IN FOUNTAIN AND PUTTING WATER ON HER NECK AND HER SON'S NECK MAN SOAKING HIS HEAD IN WATER AND DRINKING MAN FILLING UP WATER BOTTLE FROM FOUNTAIN NEXT TO SPANISH STEPS WOMAN DRINKING FROM FOUNTAIN SUN HITTING SPANISH STEPS
- Embargoed: 5th July 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Italy
- City:
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Environment
- Reuters ID: LVAE4SQ17KXMX3G1TUXN490X1JHO
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: A heat wave swept across Italy on Tuesday (June 19) with temperatures of around 32 degrees made worse by the warm air from the Scipione wind blowing from north Africa.
Experts say the combined effect of the high pressure and wind makes the temperature feel more like 35 degrees.
Tourists and residents shielded themselves from the scorching sun by taking refuge under umbrellas, with bottles of water clenched in their hands. Many gathered around famous fountains making the most of the cooling affect of the cold water.
"It has been incredibly hot these days" said Eva, a tourist from Spain.
"We haven't been able to see the Roman forum, the Caracalla baths, nothing, its just been too hot, we have just been drinking water all day. Only at night it becomes a little bit more cool" she said standing next to the fountain in Piazza Navona.
A few tourists didn't seem to mind the heat.
"In Australia where I am from it gets much hotter than this. It gets up to 45 degrees" said Callum from Australia.
"... but I suppose in Europe yes (it is hot), France was a lot colder than this" he added.
A couple of tourists from Melbourne, Australia, said they weren't used to being out in such high temperatures but were determined to make the most of it.
"Oh we don't like it but if you want to come to Rome you have to put up with it in the summer" said Elizabeth from Melbourne.
Police patrolled the streets, keeping an eye on the city's fountains to prevent any impromptu dips, as people cooled their heads under water spouts and wet their hats and t-shirts.
The high temperatures are expected to last for most of June. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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