As Europe heats up, Italy's ancient trulli offer a cool refuge

Piano Caldo: Rome unveils ‘Italy’s first’ climate adaptation plan

With the data showing that Italy’s summers are getting hotter due to man-made climate change, Rome has announced a strategy for coping with the extreme heat.

Europe’s most idyllic island escapes

Europe’s most idyllic island escapes

Europe's record-breaking heatwave: What you need to know

Europe is sweltering through its most severe heatwave on record, with temperatures shattering all-time highs across the continent and the heat now shifting east towards the Balkans and Ukraine. The heatwave is being sustained by what meteorologists call an omega block -- a weather pattern named for the Greek letter because of the shape it creates in the atmosphere. Hot, dry air from North Africa becomes trapped over a region as low-pressure systems on either side prevent it from moving away. The result is that temperatures have been pushed up to 18°C above their seasonal average. Europe is particularly exposed: only about 20 of European homes have air conditioning, and much of the continent's housing stock was built to retain heat rather than shed it.

Why Europe can't air condition its way out of extreme heat

Why Europe can't air condition its way out of extreme heat

Frozen feasts and cool pools help Rome zoo animals survive heatwave

As a severe heatwave grips Italy, Rome's Bioparco is helping its animals stay cool with frozen treats, chilled pools and climate-controlled shelters while the capital remains under a red heat alert.