"Philip Eden" philipATweatherHYPHENukDOTcom wrote:
To answer the OP's question, and with the proviso that
I haven't researched it, it seems that the prime candidate
for the European record holder is Catenanuova, on Sicily,
(about 30km SW of Etna!) recorded on 10th August 1999.
It was certainly a very hot day on Sicily with 42°C at both
Catania and Palermo.

I omitted to add that Catenanuova's max temp on that
day was 48.5°C.

Philip