As a searing heatwave blanketed southern Italy, locals and tourists in the Sicilian city of Catania battled to stay cool on Tuesday (July 22), from sipping cold drinks in the shade to plunging into the Mediterranean Sea.

Temperatures soared above 40°C (104°F), prompting many to take refuge in public parks, under umbrellas, or beside the city’s historic fountains.

Women waved fans, men poured water over their heads, and some even slept on benches to escape the stifling heat of their homes.

Along the coast, beaches filled with families escaping the urban heat. Children dived into the sea while adults lounged at the water’s edge.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

CATANIA, ITALY (JULY 22, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF WOMAN COOLING OFF WITH FAN

2. WOMAN COOLING OFF AT FOUNTAIN

3. PEOPLE IN SHADE

4. MAN POURING WATER TO COOL OFF

5. MEN PLAYING CARDS

6. GIRL DRINKING WATER

7. MEN SLEEPING AT PARK

8. MAN SITTING BY THE FOUNTAIN

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST ERIC NILS, SAYING:

"We come from Northern Ireland. It is very hot but I think as long as you have water, you stay in the shade and you have a fan, you can manage it okay. But it's beautiful because we don't have much sunshine in Northern Ireland so this is a nice change."

10. PEOPLE WALK PAST PHARMACY

11. PEOPLE FILMING BEHIND THE FOUNTAIN

12. WOMAN WITH UMBRELLA

13. MAN EATING ICE CREAM

14. PERSON BY THE FOUNTAIN

15. WOMAN DRINKING COLD BEVERAGE

16. WOMAN WALKING IN STREET

17. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) TOURIST, LUDMILA KOLSEVIC, SAYING:

"And when it's get too much heat, we go in the shadows so it's more.. it's better not.. So, we stay cool with gelato (ice cream) and granita. It's very good."

18. MAN POURING WATER

19. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET

20. MAN COOLING OFF WITH FAN

21. PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET

22. WOMAN DRINKING WATER

23. PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET

24. MAN SLEEPING ON BENCH

25. PEOPLE SITTING ON BENCH

26. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE BY THE BEACH

27. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) RESIDENT OF CATANIA, RAMONA CAVALLARO, SAYING:

"It's a very hot day and the ideal solution is to swim in the sea."

28. PEOPLE IN THE SEA

29. BOY DIVING IN THE SEA