American Tourists Confused Over Disgusted Looks They Were Getting From Locals. Then They Find Out They Were Breaking Venice Law: ‘We Didn’t Know’
They nearly got fined.
Venice is one of Europe’s getaway hotspots known for its historic architecture, delicious food, and the famous Grand Canal, so it’s no wonder visitors try to take in as much of the scenic city as possible during their stay. One couple decided to admire the charming Italian city with a morning run; however, it ended with the tourists realizing they were unknowingly breaking obscure laws on public decency.
Julia Latoff (@eats.by.julia), a registered dietitian and runner, shared on her Instagram the incident that nearly got her and her boyfriend, Mike Naccarella, fined €250 (around $291) in Venice. In her video, Latoff cautioned other travelers, saying, “If you are planning to travel to Venice, make sure you pack a running shirt!!!”
Latoff claimed that she and Naccarella noticed Italian locals had been looking at the couple disapprovingly while on their morning run. But it wasn’t until one mile in and someone supposedly shouted at Naccarella that the couple was forced to halt their workout to figure out what was happening.
Venice can fine you €250 for being bare-chested
“We noticed people were, like, shaking their heads at us. Looking, like, disgusted and angry,” Latoff said. “Someone yelled at Mike, [and] we stopped and looked it up, and found out it’s actually illegal to run without a shirt.”
In 2018, Venice City reportedly introduced several regulations to maintain the city’s landscape and cleanliness, as well as prohibit certain behaviors that can disturb its safety and public hygiene. One of the regulations stated on its website, and enforced by the Venice City Council Municipal Police, is that people are prohibited from walking in public “bare-chested or in a swimsuit.”
According to Latoff, she and her boyfriend immediately went to hide in a back alley when they learned of the law they unintentionally broke. She said they contacted Naccarella’s sister and asked her to bring a shirt so they could return to their accommodations without attracting any more attention and to avoid getting a ticket from the police.
In a statement to Newsweek, Latoff explained that they had visited Venice in early July and, due to the hot weather, her boyfriend decided to go running without a shirt. “Which is the norm in NYC in the summer where we live,” she said. “We had also run in Florence earlier that week and saw other shirtless runners, so we didn’t think anything of it!”
Venice has more regulations
The simple mistake is seemingly understandable, as it’s not a commonly known law. In fact, Venice City has other regulations that tourists should take note of. Per the City of Venice’s website, people are prohibited from eating and drinking on the ground, nor are they allowed to sit on walkways or foundations. Failing to do so can result in a fine of up to €200 ($233) and a ban from the place where the act was committed. You can also receive the same fines should you camp in public areas.
People are also prohibited from using or carrying bicycles throughout the city, with a fine of €100 ($116). Bathing, swimming, or diving into canals can also result in a fine of €350 ($408), as well as littering. The feeding of pigeons and seagulls also has a hefty price, which can range from €25 to €500 ($29 to $583).
“Sorry, Venetian people. We didn’t know,” Latoff apologized in her video. According to Latoff, her boyfriend went back to running shirtless when they returned home. However, the experience allegedly left him more cautious when traveling.
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