Perugia Is Now Seeing One Of Its Periodic Heat-Wave Emergencies



[click for larger image]

Temperatures hit 40 degrees Selsius (about 100 degrees Fahrenheit) several times each summer.

Perugia is essentially a non-air-conditioned city and it would be technically very tough to convert. And moving around it involves a lot of walking up and down a lot of steep steps and steep streets.

If the heat stays that high for several days in a row, an emergency has to be declared. There are a lot of emergency municipal systems now in place to help the citizens to take care of it, and the Municipal Operations Center remains open throughout.

Fortunately the city population will be down by many thousands right now, as August is the main vacation month in Europe, and except for the summer schools the universities will largely be quiet. 

For those that choose to remain or that have to remain, they have been advised to drink plenty of fluids, stay indoors or in shaded and cool areas during the hottest periods, ventilate their homes by opening all shutters, take extra showers. And travel to nearby places where there actually is some air conditioning. 

The view above is of the south end of the walled city, the end away from from Meredith’s house. Some distance directly behind here is Capanne, and, much further away, Rome.

We don’t know if Capanne’s new prison is air-conditioned but Italy’s prisons are generally not. A cause for some not very effective complaining.

Posted by Peter Quennell on 08/03/09 at 04:08 PM in The wider contexts,  Italian context

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Comments

Meredith’s house would be at about the same altitude as those buildings at the center of the shot. Climbing up from there to the plateau of the walled city would be like climbing a 60 or 70 story building.

This street might have been the route she most used. The shots are headed down toward the park above her house and School for Foreigners.

Posted by Peter Quennell on 08/03/09 at 05:12 PM | #

Hmmm…maybe Amanda is finally beginning to feel the heat…

Posted by TT on 08/03/09 at 08:00 PM | #

Totally, TT! The helleva hot heat hex. Start that kettle at a simmer and bring it to a full boil - say around September?!

Posted by Professor Snape on 08/04/09 at 07:30 AM | #
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