Italian Towns Ban Bikinis

Several seaside towns in Italy are banning people from wearing bikinis anywhere but the beach. The move comes in an effort to restore a sense of dignity and modesty to town centres frequented by locals and tourists sporting skimpy swimwear. The island of Lipari in the Aeolian Islands off the northeast coast of Sicily has issued an ordinance saying that people wearing bikinis, thongs or other swimming costumes in Lipari town centre risk being fined up to €500. The Italian media reports that signs have been posted to warn people and that local police have been authorised to issue fines. The town’s mayor, Marco Giorgianni, is reported to have introduced the measure after residents and tourists complained about exhibitionism. Similar measures have also been introduced against the wearing of bikinis anywhere but the beach in the Sicilian town of Aci Castello in Catania. The war against baring too much flesh started earlier in the summer when the mayor of Vietri Sul Mare on the Amalfi Coast banned bikinis outside of the beach area, and anyone found wearing swimwear in the town centre now faces a fine of up to €500. The moves follow a campaign launched by the city of Venice in spring 2013. The local council issued a series of guidelines to encourage tourists to respect Venice, including a reminder that people cannot walk around the city in swimwear or bare-chested and doing so risks incurring a €500 fine.