7 days ago
Popular Italian holiday hotspot bans walking barefoot, booze & picnics with rules-breaking tourists facing hefty fines
A CHARMING seaside gem nestled on the Italian Riviera has slapped strict rules on holidaymakers.
Officials in Portofino, a town in Liguria famed for its narrow houses painted in tutti frutti shades, will be handing out fines to those who disrespect the picturesque hotspot.
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From July 15, travellers will no longer be allowed to walk through the cobbled streets barefoot, in swimwear or topless.
The rules are also extended for the piazza, Italian for the main square of a town.
Boozing in the streets is also a no-go, with alcohol only prohibited in restaurants, bars, or designated areas.
If your flip flops are causing you grief, make sure to plonk yourself down on a bench as sitting or lying on paths, walls and parks is against the rules.
In a bid to crack down on litter and public nuisance, picnics are also banned.
The regulations are only in place during the summer, where the town sees an influx of 100,000 tourists.
In the quieter times of the year, the town only has a population of 400.
The new ordinance, signed by Mayor Matteo Viacava, will temporarily expire on September 30.
Anyone caught breaking the rules could be fined between £22 and £433.
The fine system has been put in place to protect the "peace and quiet of residents and tourists".
In the port city of Diano Marina, similar guidelines were put in place by the mayor, Cristiano Za Garibaldi.
He told Telenord: "This is not a punishment, but a gesture of respect for the town, its residents, and visitors."
Italy is the third most visited country in Europe, after France and Spain, and in 2023 saw around 57.3 million tourists.
To cope with culture clashes, other cities in the stunning country have also imposed rules to protect their citizens.
Picnics on bridges or monuments in Venice are not allowed, and in Rome its forbidden to bathe in fountains.
On the island of Capri, it's frowned upon to wear noisy shoes like heels.
Spain, the holiday hotspot for Brits since the travel boom in the 1970s, is also cracking down on travellers.
There are now restrictions in place to stop holidaymakers drinking alcohol in public spaces including streets, parks, and on beaches.
Drinking in a public space could result in fines up to £2,568.
Areas in Majorca, such as Llucmajor, Palma and Magaluf, have also stopped the sale of alcohol between 9.30pm and 8am - as stated on the government website.
These areas have also put a restriction on happy hour deals and have banned offers like 'all you can drink in one hour'.
Hotels and other establishments, like bars, will also evict customers for dangerous behaviour - and will hand out fines too.
Drinking alcohol on beaches is largely prohibited - especially during peak tourist seasons.
Anyone caught drinking on the beach or promenade when the rules state otherwise will be fined on the spot, with the amount ranging from £1,285 to £2,568.
A new law was passed in Spain last year that gives local municipalities the power to fine anyone caught smoking on the beach.
If a municipality does take up the law, anyone caught smoking on the beach can be charged up to £1,700.
Around 20 per cent of the country's beaches are already smoke-free zones and there's been a call for a total ban.
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