(ANSA) - Italians and tourists gasped in scorching temperatures and steamy humidity on Friday as Italy's heat wave hit new heights. Visitors to Rome sought relief in the city's fountains while tourists in Florence kept to ir-conditioned hotels and people in Naples headed off to the cooler islands in the famed bay.
Temperatures rose to 39 degrees centigrade in Rome and 40 in another art city, Arezzo in Tuscany. Florence saw the mercury climb to 39, the same as Perugia where water was given out to tourists free of charge. Catania in the lee of Mt Etna had a high of 38. The weather is expected to give some respite on Sunday but Italy's Civil Dedence Department is on red alert this weekend with a health watch for people likely to suffer most from the heat, especially the elderly.
