Holiday hotspot introduces strict new £417 fines for tourists who make very simple mistake
BRITS who show off too much skin in a popular holiday resort this summer could find themselves paying a fine of more than £400 after new rules were introduced.
Sorrento in Italy has brought the new laws in this summer and anyone caught walking around topless could be fined as much as €500 (£417).
The new rules have been introduced by the town's mayor, Massimo Coppola, who said that tourists were threatening the locals' "quality of life" by either taking off their shirts, or wearing bikinis.
He eventually pushed through the rules last month, with fines starting as low as €25 (£20.91).
The mayor said: "That behaviour is seen by the majority of people as contrary to decorum and to the decency that characterises civilised cohabitation.
“The continuation of this situation, as well as causing discomfort and unease in the resident population and among visitors, could lead to a negative judgment on the quality of life in our town, with consequences for its image and for tourism."
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The strict measures have gained some support from locals in the town.
Local journalist Max Tamanti described wearing swimwear in public as a "macabre procession".
Other holiday spots in Italy have imposed similar rules.
Praia a Mare in Calabria has banned inappropriate clothing, as well as walking barefoot.
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The town of Rapallo in Liguria has brought in street signs reminding visitors to dress appropriately.
Some places in Spain have introduced similar swimwear rules this summer.
In Barcelona, people can only wear bikinis on the beach, and holidaymakers caught wearing one in the town centre could face a fine of up to £260.
Similarly, bikinis are limited to the beaches in Majorca, with fines of up to £500 for those caught flouting the rules.
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And a number of beaches in Italy are charging tourists to sunbathe on the beaches.
This British tourist was fined €500 for making a simple mistake while on holiday in Rome.
