Rome battles heat with free cinemas and libraries

Rome's 'Grande Freddo' plan turns cinemas, libraries and theatres into air-conditioned refuges as temperatures soar. Rome city council is battling the summer heat by providing residents with free access to air-conditioned cinemas, libraries and cultural venues during the hottest hours of the day. The two-week plan, dubbed "Il Grande Freddo" (The Great Cold), will run from Thursday 23 July until Tuesday 4 August. The initiative was unveiled at city hall on Wednesday by Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri and culture councillor Massimiliano Smeriglio, alongside representatives from the libraries authority, the city's climate office and the regional cinema owners' association, Anec Lazio. Cinemas Eleven cinemas across the city are showing free films twice daily - one screening between 13.00 and 14.45, the other at around 18.30 - with the same film shown simultaneously in every participating venue. The line-up kicks off with Paola Cortellesi's hit film C'è ancora domani. Venues include Cinema Adriano, The Screen Cinemas in Ottavia, Cinema Lux, UCI Maximo and UCI Roma Est, spread across several of the city's municipalities so residents have a cool refuge close to home. Libraries Eleven public libraries are also open on a walk-in basis, with no booking required, alongside free bottled water for visitors. The list stretches from the Renato Nicolini library in Corviale to a temporary Elsa Morante branch at Ostia's marina. Two further cultural spaces have joined the scheme: the Sala Squarzina at Teatro Argentina, opened specially with books available for the public to browse, and the Auditorium at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni, where visitors can also see Emergency's photography exhibition, Revelation. Lorenzo Meloni. Gualtieri described the plan as serving a dual purpose - cultural and climatic - calling it an extension of the city's broader heat-response strategy. Entry to all venues is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Full details of participating venues, addresses and film listings are available on the Roma Capitale website.

WIRE — Rome's 'Grande Freddo' plan turns cinemas, libraries and theatres into air-conditioned refuges as temperatures soar. Rome city council is battling the summer heat by providing residents with free access to air-conditioned cinemas, libraries and cultural venues during the hottest hours of the day. The two-week plan, dubbed "Il Grande Freddo" (The Great Cold), will run from Thursday 23 July until Tuesday 4 August. The initiative was unveiled at city hall on Wednesday by Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri and culture councillor Massimiliano Smeriglio, alongside representatives from the libraries authority, the city's climate office and the regional cinema owners' association, Anec Lazio. Cinemas Eleven cinemas across the city are showing free films twice daily - one screening between 13.00 and 14.45, the other at around 18.30 - with the same film shown simultaneously in every participating venue. The line-up kicks off with Paola Cortellesi's hit film C'è ancora domani. Venues include Cinema Adriano, The Screen Cinemas in Ottavia, Cinema Lux, UCI Maximo and UCI Roma Est, spread across several of the city's municipalities so residents have a cool refuge close to home. Libraries Eleven public libraries are also open on a walk-in basis, with no booking required, alongside free bottled water for visitors. The list stretches from the Renato Nicolini library in Corviale to a temporary Elsa Morante branch at Ostia's marina. Two further cultural spaces have joined the scheme: the Sala Squarzina at Teatro Argentina, opened specially with books available for the public to browse, and the Auditorium at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni, where visitors can also see Emergency's photography exhibition, Revelation. Lorenzo Meloni. Gualtieri described the plan as serving a dual purpose - cultural and climatic - calling it an extension of the city's broader heat-response strategy. Entry to all venues is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Full details of participating venues, addresses and film listings are available on the Roma Capitale website.

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