All 27 major Italian cities monitored by the Health Ministry are now under red-alert status, a first for this year's fourth heat wave, after 19 cities faced the highest warning level last week. Ground temperatures reached 48 degrees Celsius at Naples' central station and the Afragola produce market, according to readings compiled by Legambiente Campania, which monitored 10 thermal hotspots across the region. Five sites — including residential zones in Macerata Campania and Sant'Antimo, market areas in Caserta and San Severino, and San Cipriano d'Aversa — recorded 46 degrees, with Benevento, Avellino and Salerno also exceeding 40.
Authorities have extended night-time opening hours at the Colosseum and Pantheon as the country expects nearly 172 million tourist arrivals through the end of August, with temperatures forecast to reach 40 degrees across several regions.