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SOCIAL

Top 10: ways to keep your cool in Italy’s heatwave

Top 10: ways to keep your cool in Italy’s heatwave

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Drink wine. The official advice might be to steer clear of anything alcoholic, but the Sicilians have it sussed. They've come up with Palari Faro, a red wine which, according to the southern island's folklore, helps you to maintain a cool head during a long, hot summer.Photo: Wikicommons

Head to the alpine valley of Aosta, the coldest place in Italy. With the average August temperature reaching 25 degrees centigrade, you'll be able to enjoy a comfortable alpine walk without wilting. You might even spot a Juventus footballer along the way, as the team heads to the valleys for its summer training camp.Photo: Wikipedia

Planning to leave your coat behind on a trip to Rome? Think again. The capital has its very own Ice Club, where a cool -5 degrees centigrade might tempt you to head back outside. Fear not, the free vodka cocktail will soon warm you up again.Photo: Charlie1965/Flickr

So you're stuck in a gridlock of traffic, with nothing to do apart from watch your car's temperature gauge creep up. Before you lose your cool completely, why not take a snap of the gauge and post it on Facebook? It's the latest summer craze sweeping the social network. Go on, let everyone know that you're in the hottest car in the world.Photo: Rachel McNally

This pearl of wisdom comes from an insider at The Local. In an effort to cool her blood the other night, she went to bed with a frozen bottle of water. Not only did she sleep blissfully, but she was kept fully hydrated all night.Photo: Wikicommons

No air-conditioning at home? Get yourself invited to lunch with the neighbours who do have it. What could be more enjoyable than an Italian meal and pleasant conversation in a cool setting, all the while knowing that somebody else is footing the electricity bill? Don't mind the hosts, they’ll be more than delighted if you simply rock up with a bottle of that Sicilian red. Photo: Maurizio Lupi/Flickr

Fed up with spending a euro or two on bottled water? Then drink for free from a water fountain, which are dotted all across the country. One 90-year-old Italian told The Local she’d been drinking water from the ubiquitous taps all her life, "and it’s done me nothing but good."Photo: Wikicommons

Go and hang out in any designer shop, as that's where the best air-conditioning is.Photo: Wikicommons

It would be easy to while away the summer living off ice-cream and granite. But other dishes that apparently help fight the heat are anguria (watermelon), ham and melon and insalata di riso (cool boiled rice with vegetables). Photo: Wikcommons

It might be tempting to fling open the window shutters and let the breeze in. But most Italian homes are kept cool with the shutters closed and the windows open, which blocks out the sun while allowing the air to circulate.Photo: Wikicommons

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