Madrid residents seek relief as cultural venues offer shelter from searing heat

China

Madrid residents seek relief as cultural venues offer shelter from searing heat

2025-08-05 14:34 Last Updated At：23:07

A searing heatwave which is gripping much of Spain has seen many cultural venues in the capital Madrid transform into temporary rest areas, allowing residents to escape the worst of the sizzling temperatures and seek some respite indoors.

The extreme weather has prompted the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) to issue a series of warnings, with temperatures in some places expected to exceed 42 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, according to the agency.

While people have been advised to stay indoors, outdoor workers in Madrid such as postal workers, deliverymen and traffic police, find it difficult to avoid the raging daytime temperatures and can only take measures to protect themselves.

"I just got off work. It's incredibly hot today, so I need to drink lots of water. I don't think it was normally this hot, but it's getting hotter every year. I personally don't think this is normal, but what can I do? I just have to take care of myself," said Juan, a local resident.

In response, the city's government has created some "green cultural spaces" to allow people to guard against the heat, with many cultural venues now becoming welcome indoor sanctuaries which provide ample room for residents to rest and get some relief from the blazing sunshine.

"Madrid experienced a severe heat wave this week, with temperatures reaching between 38 to 40 degrees Celsius. As a result, the afternoons and weekends are the peak hours for us, with the number of visitors reaching around 1,000 to 1,200 people. This also reflects the real need for 'climate shelters' for the public," said Santiago Hernandez, head of strategic and editorial development at Madrid's Circulo de Bellas Artes, or the Circle of Fine Arts, a long-running cultural institution based in the heart of the Spanish capital. In these urban oases, there are also a number of entertainment options on offer, with many choosing to take a nap, enjoy a good book, or even play chess, while others are bringing their laptops to get some work done while escaping the intense summer heat.

"It's terrible. I can't adapt to it at all. I'm not from Spain, I came here to study. This kind of heat is completely new to me, completely different from where I live in Latin America," said a Peruvian student named Raquel.

The latest heat wave has already resulted in a number of fatalities so far this month, according to media reports. Spain's environment ministry reported in mid-July that high temperatures had caused well over 1,100 deaths across the nation over the previous two months, a sharp increase from last year, with senior residents being most vulnerable.

Milano-Cortina Paralympics reveal opening, closing themes as Games draw near

The organizing committee of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games has unveiled the titles, creative visions, and first talents of the opening and closing ceremonies, as Thursday marked 50 days before the event officially gets underway.

Scheduled from March 6 to 15 across multiple Italian cities, the Games will bring together 665 athletes from 50 countries and regions to compete for 79 gold medals across six sporting disciplines.

The opening ceremony, titled "Life in Motion," will be staged at the historic Arena di Verona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, presenting a tribute to change and transformation that seeks to redefine disability through a new harmony between people and the environment.

"I paid close attention to the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which I consider one of the three or four most beautiful in the history of Olympic ceremonies. This time at the ancient Arena di Verona, we will place greater emphasis on showcasing the human element," the ceremonies' artistic director Alfredo Accatino told a Chinese reporter at the event.

The closing ceremony, themed "Italian Souvenir," will be held on March 15 at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, guiding athletes, volunteers, and fans through a journey that captures the emotions and memories of the Games after days of competition and achievement.

Craig Spence, the International Paralympic Committee's Chief Brand and Communications Officer, believes that Italy will deliver "the best Paralympic Games" following the benchmark set by the Beijing Winter Paralympics in 2022.

"I think what China did in Beijing has really set the benchmark for all future teams competing in the Paralympic Winter Games in terms of performance. That's why I think Milano-Cortina will be the best Paralympic Games we've ever seen for sports," he said.