Rome opens free cooled cinemas and libraries as heatwave shelters

Rome’s municipal government launched the “Il Grande Freddo” initiative, opening eleven air‑conditioned cinemas and eleven libraries to the public for free from 23 July to 4 August. The spaces provide climate‑controlled refuge from extreme summer temperatures that have risen three degrees Celsius above the 1980s average. Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said the program helps residents cool off and combats isolation, noting that “Beautiful films including new releases will be screened … because not everyone has air conditioning.” Each cinema shows two screenings per day, with a different Italian film each day, and libraries offer free water. Large venues such as the Auditorium and Palaexpo, as well as co‑working spaces and other cultural sites, are also open during the hottest hours. Temperatures in Rome are expected to reach 36‑38 °C, with a possible spike to 40 °C, prompting the city to provide accessible cooling spaces for citizens who lack private air‑conditioning.