Red alerts in 22 cities & major rail delays
Extreme heat and incoming storms are disrupting daily life across Italy, with 22 cities currently under red alert for high temperatures. Travel is also heavily impacted this week by major rail works in Florence that are splitting the national train network. Meanwhile, the European Court of Human Rights has issued a significant ruling against Italy regarding the protection of assault victims.
Expect severe heat and potential power outages as 22 cities reach "red alert" status, the highest level of weather warning. In Genoa, the heatwave has already led to the deaths of two elderly residents. While record temperatures persist, a weather shift is bringing storm alerts to most of the country, increasing the risk of sudden maltempo (severe weather).
If you are traveling by train, prepare for significant delays and cancellations during this "black week" for rail transport. Maintenance work to replace the Ponte al Pino bridge in Florence is effectively dividing the country's rail lines in two, causing widespread disruption to north-south connections.
In legal news, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)—an international court that rules on civil and political rights—has condemned Italy for failing to provide adequate protection to a woman who reported a sexual assault. The court found that the state did not meet its obligations after a prosecutor suggested it was normal for a man to have to overcome a woman's resistance.
For those looking to purchase property, new data identifies the most affordable locations in the country. Mosso, in the province of Biella (Piedmont), is currently the cheapest municipality to buy a home based on price per square meter.
For more, including Italy's summer tourism records and the new postage stamp honoring the hearing-aid company Amplifon, see the News section.