Two holidaymakers in Venice nearly faced a €250 (about £215) fine after the man went for a run without a shirt, breaking a local bylaw that bans public undress outside designated beach areas.
Julia Latoff, a dietitian and runner who documents her travels on Instagram, was holidaying in the Italian city with her boyfriend, Mike Naccarella, last month. Speaking to Newsweek, Julia explained: "It was early July and very hot, so my boyfriend was running without a shirt, which is the norm in NYC in the summer where we live."
She added: "We had also run in Florence earlier that week and saw other shirtless runners, so we didn't think anything of it!"
Shout from a local
The couple's run took a turn when a local shouted 'this isn’t a beach' at them as they passed. Julia and Mike then searched online to find out what they were doing wrong.
"By the time we were 1 mile in, we knew something must be wrong so we stopped and did a quick google search. Sure enough, a new law was created in 2018," Julia said.
Worried about attracting the attention of the Venetian police, the pair ducked into an alley and called Mike's sister, asking her to bring a t-shirt for him to wear.
Honest mistake
"As soon as we realised what they were upset about, we hid in an alley and bought a shirt. It was an honest mistake, and we felt bad and embarrassed," Julia added. "Sorry Venetian people, we didn't know."
Mike completed his run wearing a new t-shirt depicting a version of Michelangelo's 'The Creation of Adam' showing God handing the first man an Aperol Spritz.
The bylaw, introduced in 2018 and listed on the city's website, states: "No public undress: Walking around bare-chested or in swimwear outside of designated beach areas is banned."
Other strict rules
Venice enforces several other rules for visitors. Picnics are strictly off-limits: "Do not sit, lie down, or picnic on the ground, bridges, canal banks, church steps, or monuments. Fines range from €100 to €200," the website explains.
Bicycles, scooters, and skateboards are not allowed in the historic city, and feeding pigeons in public spaces, such as St. Mark's Square, is forbidden. Littering, including leaving padlocks on bridges, is also banned.
Bathing or diving in any of the canals or the St. Mark's Basin is strictly prohibited, with rule-breakers risking a €350 fine.
