The Italian village of Varenna, on the eastern shore of Lake Como, has introduced a ban on bare chests, with offenders fined between €50 and €200.The stricter dress code means visitors are prohibited from walking around the village's shops and public areas in swimwear or shirtless. The ban doesn’t apply to people on beaches, piers or boat docks. The ban is part of a wider response to mass tourism in Varenna. The tiny fishing village with less than 700 residents has become one of the most popular tourist destinations on Lake Como, and the new rules address excessive noise and disruptive crowds. They include a restriction on the size of tourist groups to no more than 25 people. The appeal of the town to tourists lies in its romantic atmosphere, picturesque lakeside houses, garden and historic architecture. Varenna is known for historic pedestrian-friendly lanes, with much of the village closed to traffic. Tourists have been urged not to stand around in public spaces and pedestrian walkways, although this request does not apply to school groups, educational trips or parish youth groups. Tour guides and leaders are also not allowed to blast out information through loudspeakers or use other forms of voice amplification. Mauro Manzoni, Varenna’s mayor, told The Guardian: “Varenna is a wonderful village, and we are proud to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world every year. However, our residents’ quality of life cannot be sacrificed on the altar of mass tourism.”Varenna isn’t the first authority to impose stricter tourism rules. In 2022, Sorrento brought in fines ranging from €25 to €500 for walking around the town in swimwear, with the mayor calling for an end to the “indecent behaviour” in a Facebook post. “These types of behaviors can be considered as a cause for unease and discomfort for both Sorrento residents and tourists,” he wrote.In 2023, Portofino introduced fines of up to €275 for people loitering in certain areas of the village. In 2024, Venice capped tourist parties at 25 people and prohibited loudspeakers and music being played through speakers.