Italian Lake Town Enforces Dress Code With Fines Up to $228 for Swimwear in Public

Varenna, a picturesque village on Lake Como in northern Italy, has enacted new municipal regulations prohibiting visitors from appearing shirtless or in swimwear while traversing town streets. The lakeside destination, which draws hundreds of thousands of tourists annually, established the restriction to preserve the quality of life for its 646 permanent residents across the 4.85-square-mile municipality.

Violators face fines ranging from approximately €50 to €200, or $57 to $228 in U.S. currency. The town’s official tourism website clarifies that the prohibition applies throughout municipal territory except on beaches, piers, and boat docks, where such attire remains acceptable.

Mayor Mauro Manzoni characterized the measure as a necessary balance between welcoming global visitors and protecting residents’ well-being. “Varenna is a wonderful village, and we are proud to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world every year,” Manzoni told The Guardian. “However, our residents’ quality of life cannot be sacrificed on the altar of mass tourism.”

The initiative mirrors enforcement efforts undertaken by the French seaside resort Les Sables-d’Olonne in 2025, which similarly restricted topless and swimwear appearances in public spaces. Social media discussions have largely favored the policy, with supporters characterizing it as an assertion of community standards and respect for local residents.