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Lake Como: Varenna Fines Tourists for Wearing Swimwear in Town

The Italian town of Varenna on Lake Como is fining tourists up to 200 euros for walking through the town in swimwear or with bare chests. According to the Guardian, the resort aims to curb mass tourism with the dress code.

Lake Como: Varenna Fines Tourists for Wearing Swimwear in Town
Photo: cdn.prod.www.spiegel.de

The Italian town of Varenna on Lake Como is fining tourists up to 200 euros for walking through the town in swimwear or with bare chests. According to the Guardian, the resort aims to curb mass tourism with the dress code.

Mayor Mauro Manzoni told local radio station Comozero: ‘The quality of life of our residents must not be sacrificed on the altar of mass tourism.’ The new rules were passed by the town council at the end of June and have been largely welcomed by the roughly 650 residents.

In addition to the ban on swimwear in the entire town center, tour groups have been limited to a maximum of 25 people. Tour guides are no longer allowed to use loudspeakers to avoid clogging the narrow alleys. Violations carry fines between 50 and 200 euros.

A shopkeeper told broadcaster TGCom24: ‘At the beach you can do what you want, but when you go into shops, restaurants or churches, you have to dress decently.’ Another trader added: ‘It was about time – the important thing is that the rules are enforced.’

Measures are in place across Italy: In Sorrento, fines for walking around bare-chested were imposed in 2022, in Portofino selfies were banned in 2023 and ‘no-waiting zones’ were set up to manage tourist flows.

Source: www.spiegel.de