Italy Heatwave: Best Ways to Beat the Heat

For many visitors, the easiest relief comes indoors. Air-conditioned museums are an obvious refuge, but experts also pointed to churches, local galleries and museums in smaller towns, where crowds are lighter and cafes can make it easier to linger. Cooking classes and wine tastings are also becoming popular substitutes for long walking tours because they are often held in air-conditioned venues.

Several of the experts highlighted less obvious ways to stay cool while still seeing Italy well. Medina recommended Rome’s parks, including Villa Borghese, Villa Adriana and the Parco degli Acquedotti, as well as the underground Catacombs of San Sebastian and San Callisto. Italian travel expert and writer Alessia Armenise said supermarkets are underrated because they are air-conditioned and offer deli counters with fresh made-to-order sandwiches. She also urged travelers to plan around water, whether that means taking a boat or seeing a coastline from the sea.

Other local suggestions were tied to specific cities. In Naples, guide Marco Carrino said tourists should avoid open archaeological sites during the hottest hours and, when possible, visit Pompeii early or in cooler months. He pointed instead to the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, which he described as a major stop for Roman, Egyptian and Greek collections. In Florence, art historian and guide Dr Agata Chrzanowska recommended the hills and mountains north of the city, especially the Garfagnana region, for drivers looking to escape the heat.

Evening plans can work in a traveler’s favor as well. Armenise suggested the Verona Arena for concerts in Verona, while Chrzanowska pointed to Florence’s Odeon cafe and bookstore, a modernized art-nouveau cinema and theatre where visitors can relax with books and air conditioning. In Venice, guide Fiona Giusto said she structures her routes around shaded stops and keeps reminding tourists to drink water, wear a hat and use sunscreen. For Americans heading to Italy, the message is straightforward: the country is still open for business, but the Italy heatwave is making timing, planning and common sense part of the itinerary.