PeterGriffin
Elite
Italy's tourism minister has blocked the centuries old Palio horse race from being nominated for World Heritage status over concerns about animal cruelty.
The move has angered local politicians and residents who say it is a "cultural spectacle" that should be included.
The palio was originally on a shortlist of festivals, events and traditions that Italy planned to put forward to UNESCO in Paris for inclusion on a global list of cultural treasures.
But it has now been withdrawn over concerns voiced by Michela Brambilla, the Italian tourism minister, that horses are still injured and even killed as they thunder around Siena's main piazza in the event, which is held in the Tuscan city in July and August each summer.
Instead, the list of 10 traditions which Italy believes are worthy of World Heritage recognition instead includes the art of pizza making in Naples, the special techniques used to grow a sweet wine called Zibibbo on the Mediterranean island of Pantelleria, the violin makers of Cremona and a host of obscure festivals in which locals stagger around narrow streets with huge floats and statues on their shoulders.
The race traces its origins to medieval times, although it first took place in its current form in 1656.
Ms Brambilla, who has previously voiced disquiet over the welfare of horses in the palio, said that for cultural traditions to be awarded the heritage status they needed to represent all Italians.
"Objectively this is not the case with the Palio because there is a division of opinion between supporters and opponents, above all animal rights campaigners." She insisted that the issue was considered by an inter-ministerial committee and that her personal opinions on animal welfare did not sway the decision.
Animal rights groups claim that in the last 30 years at least 50 horses have died or were put down after injuring themselves during the breakneck gallop around Piazza del Campo, which lasts about two minutes.
"The disgrace of dead and injured horses cannot allow the Palio of Siena to be a positive symbol of Italy. The rejection of it as a candidate for intangible heritage status is an authoritative 'No' to the recognition of cultural spectacles that continue to exploit animals," said Gianluca Felicetti, the president of an animal welfare group, Lav.
But the decision angered local politicians, ordinary Sienese and the organisers of the race, which each year attracts tens of thousands of tourists to the Renaissance-era city.
Maurizio Cenni, the centre-Left mayor of Siena, and Pierluigi Millozzi, the president of the organising committee of the Palio, insisted that the event was "an invaluable example of cultural heritage".
The exclusion of the Palio from the list was "once again the product of prejudice against the festival, rather than an objective analysis," they said in an open letter.
Franco Ceccuzzi, a mayoral candidate for elections next month, accused the minister of "offending and defaming our festival, one of the most representative historical and cultural spectacles in the whole of Italy."
The government said Siena could propose the race for UNESCO recognition next year, once it had tightened up the rules governing the wellbeing of the horses, which are ridden three times round the square by bareback jockeys.
Last year Ms Brambilla angered the city when she said that "violence against animals" harmed Italy's image abroad and suggested that the Palio should be banned.
Italy has lobbied hard for various of its cultural traditions to be awarded intangible heritage status and last year succeeded in having the Mediterranean diet recognised by UNESCO, after putting forward a joint proposal with Spain, Greece and Morocco.
The move has angered local politicians and residents who say it is a "cultural spectacle" that should be included.
The palio was originally on a shortlist of festivals, events and traditions that Italy planned to put forward to UNESCO in Paris for inclusion on a global list of cultural treasures.
But it has now been withdrawn over concerns voiced by Michela Brambilla, the Italian tourism minister, that horses are still injured and even killed as they thunder around Siena's main piazza in the event, which is held in the Tuscan city in July and August each summer.
Instead, the list of 10 traditions which Italy believes are worthy of World Heritage recognition instead includes the art of pizza making in Naples, the special techniques used to grow a sweet wine called Zibibbo on the Mediterranean island of Pantelleria, the violin makers of Cremona and a host of obscure festivals in which locals stagger around narrow streets with huge floats and statues on their shoulders.
The race traces its origins to medieval times, although it first took place in its current form in 1656.
Ms Brambilla, who has previously voiced disquiet over the welfare of horses in the palio, said that for cultural traditions to be awarded the heritage status they needed to represent all Italians.
"Objectively this is not the case with the Palio because there is a division of opinion between supporters and opponents, above all animal rights campaigners." She insisted that the issue was considered by an inter-ministerial committee and that her personal opinions on animal welfare did not sway the decision.
Animal rights groups claim that in the last 30 years at least 50 horses have died or were put down after injuring themselves during the breakneck gallop around Piazza del Campo, which lasts about two minutes.
"The disgrace of dead and injured horses cannot allow the Palio of Siena to be a positive symbol of Italy. The rejection of it as a candidate for intangible heritage status is an authoritative 'No' to the recognition of cultural spectacles that continue to exploit animals," said Gianluca Felicetti, the president of an animal welfare group, Lav.
But the decision angered local politicians, ordinary Sienese and the organisers of the race, which each year attracts tens of thousands of tourists to the Renaissance-era city.
Maurizio Cenni, the centre-Left mayor of Siena, and Pierluigi Millozzi, the president of the organising committee of the Palio, insisted that the event was "an invaluable example of cultural heritage".
The exclusion of the Palio from the list was "once again the product of prejudice against the festival, rather than an objective analysis," they said in an open letter.
Franco Ceccuzzi, a mayoral candidate for elections next month, accused the minister of "offending and defaming our festival, one of the most representative historical and cultural spectacles in the whole of Italy."
The government said Siena could propose the race for UNESCO recognition next year, once it had tightened up the rules governing the wellbeing of the horses, which are ridden three times round the square by bareback jockeys.
Last year Ms Brambilla angered the city when she said that "violence against animals" harmed Italy's image abroad and suggested that the Palio should be banned.
Italy has lobbied hard for various of its cultural traditions to be awarded intangible heritage status and last year succeeded in having the Mediterranean diet recognised by UNESCO, after putting forward a joint proposal with Spain, Greece and Morocco.
