To combat the intense heat of recent days, the City of Genoa is making the air-conditioned spaces of museums and public libraries available to residents over the age of 65, offering them free access to the city’s cultural venues through the end of August so they can find relief from the heat during the hottest hours of the day.
The initiative is part of the “Safe Summer 2026” Program, promoted as part of the “Summer 2026 Plan,” and was created with the goal of preventing and reducing the effects of high temperatures on the population, with a particular focus on the elderly and frail. The project is being carried out in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Policies, Museums, and Libraries of the City of Genoa.
Among the museums involved are several venues equipped with full air conditioning: Red Palace, the DOCSAI—Center for the Documentation of Genoa’s History, Art, and Visual Heritage, the Certosa Museum on Via Lodovico Ariosto, the Frugone Collections and the Gallery of Modern Art (GAM), the Wolfsoniana, the Galata Museum of the Sea, and the National Museum of Italian Emigration (MEI).
On the other hand, the Castello D’Albertis – Museum of World Cultures has partial air conditioning—specifically in the gun ports on the first and second floors and in the event space—while Palazzo Bianco, part of the Strada Nuova Museum Complex, is air-conditioned on the third floor and in certain areas designated for workshops.
“Museums and libraries are places of knowledge, discovery, and sharing, where our city’s historical, artistic, and cultural heritage becomes accessible to everyone,” says the city councilor for Culture, Giacomo Montanari. “We are therefore particularly pleased to be able to open the doors of our facilities even wider, offering those over 65 a concrete opportunity to experience these spaces in complete safety and comfort. This initiative demonstrates how culture can also contribute to people’s well-being, transforming a necessity linked to the climate emergency into an opportunity to engage with the city’s collections, rediscover Genoa’s history, and strengthen the bond between citizens and the heritage that belongs to the entire community. Our museums are vibrant, open, and welcoming places, ready to fully fulfill their cultural and social role by fostering interaction, curiosity, and participation. At the same time, we have not hesitated to make difficult but responsible decisions. At the direction of the Municipal Operations Center (COC), museum complexes have been temporarily closed because, due to their architectural and facility characteristics, they cannot guarantee adequate safety conditions for visitors and staff. This applies to the Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art and the Museum of the Risorgimento, as well as the historic Villa Luxoro and the Historical Archives of the City of Genoa. This is a precautionary measure, already adopted in the past in similar situations, that prioritizes the protection of people. Governing means taking responsibility for one’s decisions: opening where it is possible to do so safely, closing where safety cannot be guaranteed.”
“Allowing those over 65 to spend the hottest hours of the day inside air-conditioned museums and libraries means providing a concrete response to a public health need, but also fostering opportunities for social interaction, participation, and meaningful cultural enrichment,” states the Councilor for Welfare of the City of Genoa, Cristina Lodi. “Our administration continues to invest in an integrated system that combines social services, culture, and community outreach, so that no one is left alone during the summer. We want every citizen to feel welcomed, protected, and supported, finding in these cultural venues—which deserve the utmost respect—not only a refuge from the heat but also a vibrant, open, and inclusive space capable of fostering relationships, combating isolation, and improving quality of life.”
The City also reminds residents of the Metropolitan City of Genoa that they can visit all municipal museums free of charge every Sunday and during the last time slot of each opening day.
The network of public libraries is also participating in the initiative by making numerous air-conditioned spaces available. Participating locations include the Berio Library, the Edmondo De Amicis International Children’s Library, the Benzi Library, Spazio 9, the Bruschi Sartori Library, the Campanella Library, the Cervetto Library, the Lercari Library, the Saffi Library (including its auditorium), and the Brocchi Library.
The free opening of these air-conditioned cultural spaces is part of a series of measures outlined in the Summer 2026 Plan, which includes monitoring elderly and vulnerable individuals already receiving support from social services, strengthening the network of Social Guardians, the tele-companion service, social transportation, the Social Emergency Response service, available daily through the Municipal Operations Center (010.5570), as well as discounts for public transportation and access to city swimming pools. The program is rounded out by the regional InformAnziani service, available daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the toll-free number 800.593235, through which residents can request the assistance of Neighborhood Butlers and Social Guardians—local representatives dedicated to supporting older and vulnerable individuals, monitoring risky situations, providing telephone support, and offering social companionship.
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| In Genoa, air-conditioned museums and libraries are free for people over 65 to help beat the heat |
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