Tour guide meets untimely demise at Colosseum during guided excursion
Tour guides at the iconic Colosseum in Rome are facing challenging working conditions, particularly during the summer months, as demonstrated by the tragic death of a 60-year-old tour guide on Tuesday evening[1][2].
The incident occurred during extremely warm weather, with temperatures still above 30 degrees, and the tour guide collapsed on the first floor of the ancient amphitheater[1][3]. Despite the efforts of several tourists, the woman could not be revived[1].
The state administration of the Colosseum confirmed the incident[1][4]. The death is suspected to be heat-related, as colleagues have blamed the working conditions, specifically high temperatures, for the tour guide's death[5].
Tour guides at the Colosseum are exposed to intense sun and heat without shaded/rest areas or cooling facilities, and they often work long shifts during peak daytime heat without adequate breaks[2][3]. The stress and physical exhaustion aggravated by large crowds and overtourism pressures further compound these risks[2].
The Italian tour guide federation (Federagit) and certified guide associations have called for earlier opening hours (starting at 8 a.m.) and extended hours to avoid the hottest midday period[1][4]. They also request cultural institutions and heritage site managers to enhance worker protections, such as introducing shaded waiting areas, regular breaks, and hydration options for guides[1][3].
In addition, there are demands for an official investigation into the role of heat and high workloads in guide safety, alongside improvements in health and safety protocols tailored to climate realities[5]. The national tourism ministry’s policy enabling anyone to work as a guide has intensified competition and pressured guides to accept unsafe working conditions at lower wages[1][2].
The recent fatality has intensified demands for operational changes such as adjusted opening hours, improved facilities, and stronger health protections geared to the realities of climate change and overtourism in Rome[1][2][3][4][5]. The tour guide who died had been a licensed guide since 2017.
Italian tour guide Paola Salvatori stated that overtourism is killing them due to the harsh working conditions[6]. The Colosseum received 14.7 million paying visitors last year, but this fact is not directly related to the current paragraph[7].
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