Italian Town Bans Shirtless Strolling for Tourists

In a recent move, an Italian village has discouraged tourists from wandering its streets without shirts or in swimsuits, with warnings of significant fines for those who ignore this new rule.

Varenna, a charming lakeside spot on Lake Como’s shores, has revamped its regulations to prevent tourists from walking around the town in a shirtless state or wearing just swimsuits, except in designated areas like beaches and piers.

The village’s tourism site clearly states, “Shirtless clothing or wearing only a swimsuit is prohibited in the entire city of Varenna, except on beaches, piers, and boat launches.”

Fines for breaches of this policy could set offenders back anywhere from roughly $57 to about $228, or between 50 and 200 euros.

This initiative comes as a response to the challenges of overtourism, as the picturesque village attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

The mayor, Mauro Manzoni, shared his sentiments with The Guardian, stating, “Varenna is a wonderful village, and we are proud to welcome tourists from all over the globe each year. However, we can’t sacrifice our residents’ quality of life at the altar of mass tourism.”

Varenna spans about 4.85 square miles and has a population of just 646, according to Italy’s National Statistics Office, highlighting the pressures tourism can place on small communities.

In online discussions, many users on platforms like Reddit voiced their support for the new regulations. One comment resonated with, “Their town, their laws.” Another user elaborated by wishing that more destinations would adopt similar rules.

Some commentators found the fines surprising, more so than the actual rule banning swimwear away from the beach. A third user suggested that countries like Thailand should consider implementing similar restrictions.

Interestingly, this isn’t an isolated occurrence. Similar measures were introduced last summer in parts of France, with local officials advocating for respect towards residents who prefer not to see visitors in swimwear while wandering the town.

As tourism continues to surge, many local leaders are grappling with finding a balance between welcoming visitors and maintaining community standards.