In the northern city of Bologna, one of the hottest in the peninsula, people splashed water on their faces at the central 16th-century Fountain of Neptune and sheltered in the shade of the porticoes.
Poles in Warsaw meanwhile sought relief from the heat at popular summer spots along the Vistula River.
HEATWAVES TAKE ECONOMIC TOLL
Scientists say climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and intense across Europe, raising the risk of health emergencies and economic disruption during the summer months.
Authorities in Paris moved to ease the impact on residents, with Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire ordering parks to remain open around the clock.
The economic toll of extreme heat is also drawing attention.
Bank of France Governor Emmanuel Moulin said short-term effects on growth were “somewhat ambiguous”, citing both reduced productivity and increased energy use, but warned that over the medium term heatwaves weigh on economic activity.