The coming weekend brings some of the heaviest traffic Italy’s roads will see all summer, with the state police forecasting critical conditions as holidaymakers set off for the August break.

From shoulder-to-shoulder crowds in Rome to snaking ferry queues on Lake Como, videos reveal the reality facing holidaymakers this summer.

Italy is heading into what forecasters warn will be the hottest weekend yet this summer, as the health ministry put 19 cities and regional capitals on red alert for extreme heat.