A series of historic Italian feasts involving animals including the famous Palio horse race in Siena are being excluded from a new list of celebrations compiled by Italy’s tourism ministry, officials said.

The ministry has compiled a list of 34 feasts under the category ‘Italian Heritage’, leaving off events such as the Palio or a famous joust in Foligno in central Italy that have been accused by campaigners of cruelty to animals.

“A majority of Italians condemn the exploitation of animals and their death for enjoyment,” Tourism Minister Michela Brambilla told reporters last Tuesday.

“Certain polemical local officials and politicians should understand that their battle goes against the feelings of millions of people,” she said. But a spokesman for Siena town hall, Massimo Gorelli, told AFP that the Palio is an important draw also for foreign tourists.

“There are 30,000-40,000 people a day including a lot of foreigners,” he said. Italy’s animal protection association, LAV, says 49 horses have died in the twice-yearly Palio races since 1970.