“No more climate victims on the altar of profit: no to fossil fuels,” read the banner.

Greenhouse emissions from the use of fossil fuels are the driving force of global heating and the related extreme weather events such as drought and torrential rainfall that are affecting many parts of the world, including Europe and Italy.

The protesters were quickly taken away by police.

Also on Sunday, in the northern Friuli city of Udine, climate activists blindfolded statues in the city centre to send the message that ‘Time is running out, let’s open our eyes’.

Extinction Rebellion is a group with branches in many countries that stages peaceful but frequently disruptive protests to highlight the gravity of the climate crisis and trigger action.

At the start of the year the group announced that it was shifting tactics from disruptions such as smashing windows and glueing themselves to public places, to “prioritise attendance over arrest and relationships over roadblocks”.

Their January statement titled “We quit” said “constantly evolving tactics is a necessary approach”.

Other environmental protest groups, such as Just Stop Oil, have instead stepped up direct actions, notably throwing paint at art masterpieces.

Protesters from that group also targeted Wimbledon last week, with three arrested after they interrupted two matches by throwing orange paper petals and jigsaw pieces on the court, while at Lords last week on Day 1 of the second Ashes cricket test, two protesters ran onto the field and briefly disrupted play for about five minutes trying to spread orange powder on the field.

Italy’s heatwave will continue across the entire country until at least mid-week, with temperatures reaching the mid-40s in Sicily and Sardinia. (Photo: ANSA)

Italy was in the grips of a heat wave on Saturday following the arrival on the peninsula of the African anticyclone Cerberus.

Temperatures were in the high thirties in all major cities and higher in inland areas in the island regions of Sicily and Sardinia, according to ilMeteo.it.

The very hot and sunny weather is set to continue across the whole of the country well into the week, with temperatures reaching the mid-40s in Sicily and Sardinia.

 The first signs of a breakdown of the high pressure area are expected on Wednesday, bring thunderstorms to the northern Alps.

The rest of the country will remain hot and sunny.

ANSA