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Varenna Bans Bare Chests: Tourists Face Fines
10 Jul
Summary
- Varenna now fines tourists €50-€200 for being shirtless in public.
- New rules also limit tourist groups to 25 people and restrict loudspeakers.
- Similar measures were previously implemented in Sorrento and Portofino.
The picturesque Italian village of Varenna, situated on Lake Como, has introduced a ban on bare chests in public areas, imposing fines of €50 to €200 on offenders. This new regulation prohibits visitors from wearing swimwear or being shirtless in shops and public spaces, excluding beaches and piers.
This dress code is part of a broader strategy to manage the effects of mass tourism. Varenna, a small village with under 700 residents, has become an extremely popular destination. The village also now limits tourist groups to a maximum of 25 people.
Further measures include restricting tour guides from using loudspeakers or other voice amplification devices. Mayor Mauro Manzoni stated that the residents' quality of life should not be compromised by excessive tourism.
Other Italian towns have enacted similar rules. In 2022, Sorrento introduced fines for wearing swimwear outside of beach areas. Portofino implemented fines up to €275 in 2023, and Venice capped tourist groups at 25 in 2024, also banning amplified music.
