Travelling to Italy, massive heatwave

[MaraScottie]

Hi,
So I'm due to fly to Italy next week and there is an awful heatwave throughout the country. We're staying in a Eurocamp park for 10 nights, and temperatures are forecast in the region of 35-40 degrees. I've got 2 kids going with me and to be honest I'm terrified of those temperatures.

Is this going to be the most unenjoyable holiday ever?

In Bologna in 40 degrees there was not a lot of difference. Also most of the residents had packed off to the beach anyway. I can't say anyone was looking elegant, it was a matter of plodding on.

Rome, there were small exceptions for the ultra rich but given they were going everywhere in A/C and not sightseeing all day round cobbled streets, it wasn't a fair comparison. Tourist wear was strictly practical - comfy sandals, hat, backpack.

@pipinkhousesarebest we are heading to yorkshire at the start of August and keeping everything crossed for drizzle and grey skies.

Me in the lightest linen you could find, sweating like a pig, bright red face, drenched hair, comfy trainers with my ankles like footballs.

Oh God - ankles! Yes, I have a history of ankle swelling in heat. And a long-standing jaw injury that has sometimes in the past been completely out of control in unusual temperatures.

I’ve been longing for this trip - but at this moment the thought of two weeks in lovely temperate Ireland is just blissful.

I'm in Puglia and the temperature has dropped about 5-7 degrees since the end of the week. We're at about 28 degrees today and there's a bit of a breeze coming in.
The worst days are when there's cloud cover but it's still 35 degrees.
I was in Rome last August and the day we went to the Colosseum it was 40 degrees.
I'd agree with pps that the worst of the heat is about 4pm. The ground and everything has heated up by then and there's no respite anywhere.

Posted too soon.

Take a big hat. I've been here since 1994 and last summer was the first time I've resorted to one. Changed my life!
Eat lots of fruit.
Go out early. Have a long lunch and a rest. Go back out once dark has fallen
I always joke that once we're into June I only go out after dark to forage for food in manner of some freaky human-bat-sweatmonster hybrid.

Some great tips here thanks. I bought some of those cooling towels on amazon and also picked up one of those cold bottles.

I just read however that the pools are only open at 10am, argh!

Just to say don't pass up Rome, heat or none. Do avoid all the big roads and open spaces. Unfortunately the colosseum is surrounded by those, but the building has shade.

The Pantheon is an amazing building amid smaller streets, and Trastevere is a charming warren. There used to be a very big, very fast, formica-clad but delicious and cheap pizzeria right by the main bridge into Trastevere.

The neighbourhood near the main synagogue, also near the river, has some interesting small restaurants where the menu includes traditionally Jewish recipes.

Our biggest mistake when in Rome with primary age children was to try and find a playground. Scarce, overrun and sunny.

Oh, and I've realised far too late in life that a hat with a proper brim really helps against sun. Enjoy!

Thanks - yes I've been to Rome before so not feeling the pressure to fit loads in. My absolute must is the pantheon, such a beautiful building and really gorgeous area at night.

I'll look into that pizzeria, thanks!