Varenna, a lakeside village on Lake Como, has updated its municipal regulations to prohibit visitors from walking around town shirtless or wearing only swimwear, except on designated beaches, piers, and boat docks.
The new ordinance imposes fines ranging from €50 to €200 (approximately $57 to $228) for non‑compliance, aiming to preserve public decorum.
Officials say the measure addresses the consequences of overtourism, as the village attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually while its small resident population struggles to maintain quality of life.
With an area of about 4.85 square miles and a population of 646, the town faces challenges balancing tourism demand and local welfare.
Online forums have shown support for the policy, with users praising the protection of local norms and expressing desire for similar rules in other tourist destinations.
A comparable regulation was adopted in 2025 by a French seaside town, which also banned topless or swimwear walking outside beach areas to respect residents’ preferences.
The new rules underscore a growing trend among small communities to regulate tourist behavior to safeguard cultural and social standards.
