A SPANISH city is set to offer tourists free tickets to indoor attractions to help them beat the heat.
As Madrid sizzles in the late summer heat officials have come up with a plan to help tourists stay cool.
‘Refugiate en la cultura’ (Take Shelter in Culture) will open up famous venues such as the Prado, the Reina Sofia and the Thyssen- Bornemisza museums to tourists.
Madrid’s councillor for culture, tourism and sport, Marta Rivera de la Cruz, said: ” We’re obviously aware that summer can be a complicated time – and that there are more and more tourists in Madrid in July and August, which used to be months when we got very few foreign visitors.”
“We knew we needed to come up with some alternatives so that these people weren’t out on the streets at the hottest times of the day.
“So we thought, why not make use of places that are really
well air conditioned and that also offer some extraordinary culture? And that meant museums, cultural centres, libraries and cinemas.”
The programme is also a response to the climate crisis.
She added: “I think Refugiate en la cultura is proof of the fact that the authorities have to provide ways to help people shelter and escape from these very hot times of the day, which people are more and more aware of.
“I think Refugiate en la cultura is proof of the fact that the authorities have to provide ways to help people shelter and escape from these very hot times of the day, which people are more and more aware of.”
She added that the indoor activities are green because they do not generate any additional carbon footprint.
It is hoped the event becomes annual, alongside Veranos de la villa.
