AFP
Rome
The historic fountains in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican lay empty Tuesday after the tiny city state turned them off as Italy struggles with a prolonged draught.
The dry basins of the two fountains by 17th-century sculptors Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini were symbolic of a period of sweltering temperatures which have devastated farms and forced Rome to consider water rationing. Ten regions across the country have called for a state of emergency to be declared after Italy suffered the second-driest spring in 60 years and rainfall in the first six months of the year was down 33 percent.
The dry spell has deprived Italy of 20 billion cubic metres of water so far this year -- the equivalent of Lake Como.
And there is little hope for those anxiously watching the skies in the capital: the national meteorological service has predicted small showers in the coming days but not enough to relieve the pressure.
Some 300 of the city's famous"big nose" public fountains -- so called because of their shape -- have already been turned off and more will follow.
The Lazio region is considering rationing water in Rome from Saturday for 1.5 million inhabitants for up to eight hours a day -- though the proposal is being fiercely challenged by the city's anti-establishment mayor.