A major heatwave is hitting Italy hard, with temperatures reaching 40°C recorded across several cities in recent days. Yet tourists remain undeterred by the scorching heat, as thousands continue to flock to Rome’s iconic Colosseum. To combat the extreme temperatures, Civil Protection teams have taken cooling measures into their own hands — quite literally — by spraying visitors with water.
Read: Spain: Over 1,000 dead from the June heatwave — the first half of 2026 broke every heat record
Rome: Tourists sprayed with water as they wait outside the Colosseum
Video footage has captured the moment Civil Protection teams sprayed visitors gathered outside the iconic landmark with water. At the same time, volunteers were seen handing out bottles of drinking water to help people cool down and cope with the relentless heat.
Afa da bollino rosso in tutta Italia. A Roma, per combattere il caldo, la Protezione Civile insieme a Roma Capitale distribuisce acqua, borracce, opuscoli e ombrellini in due punti intorno al Colosseo. Ma soprattutto si è dotata di un cannone nebulizzatore d’acqua preso d’assalto… pic.twitter.com/p407SWyo7r
— Radio Deejay (@radiodeejay) June 29, 2026
As seen in the footage, many tourists chose to make a brief stop to enjoy a few refreshing moments of cool mist before continuing their tour of the archaeological site. Around the Colosseum, cooling stations continue to provide relief as large crowds keep arriving throughout the day.
☀️ Rome is battling record-breaking heat: a water cannon has been installed for tourists at the Colosseum
In conditions of extreme heat and a red weather danger level, a water sprayer has been installed at the Colosseum, which dispenses 8 liters of water per minute and cools the… pic.twitter.com/EovwwtDCAa
— S p r i n t e r (@SprinterPress) June 28, 2026
Italy on red alert as heatwave claims five lives
Meanwhile, according to data from the World Health Organization, five people lost their lives across the country in the past 24 hours due to the heatwave.
Several major Italian cities were placed on the highest level of heat alert yesterday. However, from this afternoon onwards, forecasts indicate that heavy rainfall, frequently accompanied by hail, is expected to hit many areas of northern Italy. By Thursday (July 2), severe downpours are also forecast for central Italy.
In response to the crisis, many municipalities across the country have decided to open their museums free of charge until the intense heatwave subsides. Along with public gyms and cultural centers, these venues are being used as “cooling shelters” for both residents and tourists.
According to local media, urgent measures are also needed regarding the country’s public nurseries and daycare centers. It has been found that many of these facilities lack air conditioning systems, with indoor temperatures reportedly exceeding 36°C during the current heatwave.
