As Europe endures one of its hottest periods in recent years, Rome is also experiencing a severe heat wave. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), June 2026 was the hottest June ever recorded in Western Europe and the second warmest globally. In Rome, temperatures are expected to remain above 35 degrees Celsius until at least the first days of August, with peaks reaching as high as 40 degrees Celsius.
According to the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), 48.8% of Italian families do not have air conditioning. So, not everyone has the same means to cope with such conditions. For those seeking relief outside, spending hours in cafes or other air-conditioned venues is not always financially feasible. As a result, for many residents, getting through the Roman summer has become an increasingly difficult challenge.
In response to the recent heat wave, the Municipality of Rome has introduced a series of measures aimed at offering residents free, accessible spaces to cool down. The initiative, titled "Il Grande Freddo" ("The Big Chill"), a 1983 film by Lawrence Kasdan, was presented on July 22 by Rome's Mayor, Roberto Gualtieri and the city's Councillor for Culture, Massimiliano Smeriglio.
