Rome horse collapse ignites debate over tourist carriages

In early July 2026, temperatures above 30 °C in Rome led to a horse pulling a tourist carriage collapsing on the historic Ponte Cavour. A video of the incident spread rapidly online, renewing public scrutiny of the city's traditional horse‑drawn carriages known as “botticelle”.

Rome’s animal‑welfare commissioner Patrizia Prestipino said the city is no longer suitable for carriage horses, citing extreme heat, hot asphalt and dense traffic. The municipality, which already limits the number of licensed operators, is considering replacing the carriages with taxis, while some drivers resist the change.

The episode has intensified calls from animal‑rights groups and politicians to end the botticelle service, framing the issue as a clash between tourism tradition and animal welfare.