Italian Village Varenna Imposes Tourist Dress Code

The Italian village of Varenna, situated near Lake Como, has introduced a new dress code aimed at curbing disruptive tourist behavior. Effective immediately, visitors are prohibited from wearing swimwear or going shirtless in public areas outside of the designated lakeside beach and boats. Individuals who violate this ordinance will be subject to fines ranging from $50 to $228 (up to €200). Varenna’s Mayor, Mauro Manzoni, stated that these measures are intended to preserve the quality of life for the town's approximately 650 year-round residents, who have expressed concerns about the impact of mass tourism.

Beyond the dress code, Varenna has also implemented new regulations for group tours. These rules limit group sizes to a maximum of 25 members, prohibit groups from obstructing public streets, and ban the use of loudspeakers. These initiatives are part of a broader effort by local authorities to manage the influx of tourists and maintain a peaceful environment for the local community. The regulations are applicable to both tourists and residents, with locals reportedly already adhering to the new standards.

Varenna is not the sole Italian destination to adopt such measures. Several other popular tourist locations, including Portofino, Gallipoli, Sorrento, and the Cinque Terre, have introduced similar restrictions. In Portofino, fines for being shirtless in public can reach up to $342 (€300). Similarly, Gallipoli's Old Town imposes fines of up to $570 (€500) for wearing beach attire. The Cinque Terre region allows beachwear during hikes but requires visitors to change upon returning to the villages, highlighting a growing trend among Italian towns to balance tourism with resident well-being.