5 ways to beat the heat when visiting Rome

07. Sep, 2010 0 Comments

Cooling down using one of Rome's fountains. Photo via by Bryce Edwards via Flickr.

During the summer, temperatures in Rome easily soar into the high 80′s (well over 30° C for those of you using the metric system) which is challenging for visitors used to a more moderate climate.

Treat yourself to some delicious gelato

Nothing beats the heat better than ice cream, but really any excuse will do to try some Italy’s regional variant: gelato! Eating some gelato at one of Rome’s many terraces is a must-have in everyone’s itinerary, and high summer heat is yet another good reason to visit a local gelato shop.

Keep cool using Rome’s fountains

Ancient Rome was well-known for its aqueducts, providing an endless supply of mountain water. Even today, the city features water in its many facets: rivers, swimming pools and of course: fountains!

You can find some of the most fantastic fountains of the world in Rome, making them an excellent source of refreshment on hot summer days. Besides being functional, most fountains are fitted with beautiful decorations, sculptures and statues designed by some of the most influential designers and sculptors in european history.

The fountains at Piazza Navona and the Trevi fountain (fontana di Trevi) are among the most famous in the world, and definitely deserve a visit.

Stock up on ice-cold drinking water from Rome’s nassone – free!

Spread across the city are thousands of cast-iron drinking fountains or nassone, supplying you with a free and almost endless supply of ice-cold drinking water. Be sure to always care a water bottle with you, and fill it up any time you get the chance. Dehydration should be avoided, so drink water often – when you’re feeling thirsty it’s already too late.

Also, remember that drinking water from a nassoni is free! It would be a shame to pay up for overpriced drinks from vendors when you could so easily stay refreshed for free.

If you’re not sure whether a fountain is drinkable or not, there are two easy ways to check: first, see if you can find a sign nearby saying “non potabile” (not drinkable) or something similar. Second, observe the fountain to see if Rome’s native inhabitants drink from it. If they do, rest assured and fill up your bottle. Chances are, however, that every drinking fountain you’ll cross serves drinkable water.

Take a mid-day siesta

Not a fan of the mid-day heat? Why not simply avoid it, and take a relaxing siesta in the early afternoon. Look up a nice and cozy spot in the shade, read a book or maybe plan your itinerary for the early evening? Beating the heat can easily be done by following the Roman tradition of simply avoiding the hottest times of day.

Embarking on an early morning excursion into the city, followed by lunch and a lengthy nap in the early afternoon will keep you from having to fight the most intense heat. As an added bonus, taking on the popular sights well before noon will also shield you from having to face large tourist crowds and queues in the searing heat.

Continuing your itinerary with an evening stroll will enable you to spend plenty of time to visit everything you’d like to see in one day.

Actually, many shops and diners close in the afternoon for a siesta, and reopen later in the afternoon. This is especially common in the hottest summer months for, but not for the bigger designer boutiques.

Air-co heaven

Many public spaces and stores offer air condition, and give a chilling break from the unforgiving heat. This is a fantastic excuse if you like to go shop-hopping in Rome’s busy shopping streets, such as the Via del Corso and its neighborhood. You can also use the relatively narrow streets in the city centre of Rome to your advantage, as they often offer lots of shade.