The picturesque fishing village of Varenna on Lake Como has introduced fines of up to €200 (£170) for tourists caught wandering around shirtless or in swimwear, joining a growing list of Italian holiday destinations cracking down on uncouth visitor behaviour.
New rules target dress code and tour groups
Authorities in Varenna, which has a year-round population of roughly 650, have been feeling the strain from increasing visitor numbers. The new rules aim to preserve the village’s appearance and guarantee peace and quiet for residents. Walking around the village shirtless or in swimwear—garments strictly reserved for lakeside beaches or boat trips on Como—is now banned. Those who fail to comply risk fines between €50 and €200.
Additionally, tour groups have been limited to no more than 25 people and must not clog Varenna’s narrow cobblestoned streets. Guides are also banned from using loudspeakers.
Mayor defends measures to protect residents
“Varenna is a wonderful village, and we are proud to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world every year,” said Mauro Manzoni, Varenna’s mayor. “However, our residents’ quality of life cannot be sacrificed on the altar of mass tourism.”
The rules have been in place for a few days and appear to have been widely embraced by locals, especially the dress code. “On the beach, you can do what you want, but when you’re walking around and go into shops, restaurants, churches, or in the square, you must dress decently,” a shop owner told Mediaset’s TGCom24. Another shop owner said: “It was time; it’s a sound measure. The important thing is to ensure it’s enforced.”
Italy-wide trend against overtourism
Many towns and cities across Italy have imposed similar measures as they manage excessive tourism. In 2022, the then mayor of Sorrento described walking around in swimming gear and bare-chested as “widespread indecorous behaviour” tainting the town’s image and imposed hefty fines. In Liguria’s upmarket coastal town of Portofino, selfies were banned in 2023 and certain areas were designated as “no-waiting zones” to deter tourists from loitering for too long in one spot.
