Five years after the Sicilian town of Floridia recorded Europe’s highest-ever temperature of 48.8°C (119.8°F), residents say extreme heat has become an increasingly disruptive part of everyday life.
The record, set in August 2021, made the town near Syracuse a symbol of Europe’s rapidly warming climate. Since then, longer and more frequent heatwaves have increasingly affected how residents work, socialise and spend their days.
During the hottest hours, many people now remain indoors, leaving streets and public spaces unusually quiet. Some locals have compared the experience to a new kind of lockdown, as the heat restricts outdoor activity and reduces social contact.
The change is particularly noticeable in Piazza del Popolo, traditionally the social heart of the town of around 20,000 people. Once bustling with activity, the square and its surrounding cafes remain largely deserted for much of the day during periods of intense heat.
High temperatures are also increasingly extending into the evening, affecting traditions that have long been part of local life.
Among them is pigghiari u frescu, the Sicilian custom of families bringing chairs outside their homes in the evening to enjoy the cooler air, talk to neighbours and socialise.
With nights remaining warmer for longer, residents say even this familiar escape from the daytime heat is becoming increasingly difficult, illustrating how climate change is altering not only temperatures but the social rhythms of everyday life in Sicily.