Italian Tour Guide Dies in Rome's Colosseum Amid Heat

Giovanna Maria Giammarino, a 56-year-old tour guide, tragically died from suspected heat stroke or a heart attack while leading a tour at Rome's Colosseum amid extreme heat conditions. Her death has reignited calls from Italy's Certified Tour Guide Association (AGTA) to extend the Colosseum's summer opening hours to early mornings and late evenings to avoid dangerous temperatures, a change they have advocated for three years. The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations highlighted that extreme heat is now a consistent challenge requiring adaptation and solidarity within the profession. Unions expressed condolences but criticized the decision to continue tours and not suspend work activities immediately after the fatal incident, emphasizing the need for improved worker protections and consideration of working conditions in cultural sites. Colleagues and guides have voiced concerns about the physical toll and unbearable conditions caused by climate change and overtourism, urging authorities to prioritize public health and worker safety. The Colosseum, a major tourist attraction with nearly 15 million visitors last year, turned off its lights in her honor, underscoring the seriousness of the tragedy.