Two tourists narrowly avoided a €250 (about £215) fine after jogging bare-chested through Venice last month. Julia Latoff and her boyfriend Mike Naccarella were holidaying in the Italian city when they set off on an early-morning run without checking its strict by-laws.
An honest mistake
Julia, a dietitian and runner who shares her life on Instagram, told her 8,600 followers: "If you are planning to travel to Venice, make sure you pack a running shirt." In conversation with Newsweek, she 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!" However, an irate resident yelling "This isn't a beach" at them mid-run prompted the pair to check their phones. "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."
Hiding in an alley
Concerned that continuing might draw the attention of Venetian authorities, Julia and Mike slipped into an alleyway and telephoned Mike's sister, asking her to bring him a t-shirt. "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 said. "Sorry Venetian people, we didn't know."
Mike finished his run wearing a new t-shirt featuring a rendition of Michelangelo's 'The Creation of Adam' depicting God handing the first man an April Spritz.
Venice's strict rules
The regulation Mike violated was implemented in 2018 and appears on the city's official website. It declares: "No public undress: Walking around bare-chested or in swimwear outside of designated beach areas is banned."
Other regulations for visitors include a complete ban on picnicking. The website clarifies: "Do not sit, lie down, or picnic on the ground, bridges, canal banks, church steps, or monuments. Fines range from €100 to €200." Bicycles, scooters and skateboards are prohibited within the historic city centre, while feeding pigeons in public areas, including St Mark's Square, is expressly forbidden.
Littering is also banned, covering the habit of attaching padlocks to the city's bridges. Bathing or diving into any of Venice's canals or the St Mark's Basin is strictly outlawed, with offenders risking a €350 fine (almost £300).
