A Tourist Went Running Shirtless in Venice. Then He Found Out It Was Illegal

The internet has thoughts.In July, an American tourist posted a video with a warning. Endurance athlete Mike Naccarella edited a video of himself running on the streets of Venice as a horror movie. The reason? He’s shirtless for his workout, which is prohibited in the Italian city. He clarified that he was unaware of the law, and once he realized it, he donned a T-shirt. But the incident has sparked a conversation: is breaking the law sometimes innocuous, or should travelers know better? There is no doubt that tourists can be obnoxious. They far too often break rules and behave irresponsibly while traveling, disrespecting local culture and traditions. What’s worse is that when they’re caught in the act, they often double down. But Naccarella, who is from New York, seemingly did not know the rule existed. His partner, Julia Latoff, who was also running with him, posted a video explaining that they did not know about the rule and had no issues in Florence earlier that week. In an interview with The New York Post, Latoff said that they discover destinations on their runs and normally go early in the morning to avoid crowds. After they started their run, locals gave Naccarella angry glares, and one yelled at him that this wasn’t the beach. That’s when the couple looked up the law in Italy. They abandoned their run and waited until his sister got him a T-shirt. Latoff also apologized in a video. There are many positive comments on both videos, saying kudos to Naccarella for stopping and correcting himself. The choice of the T-shirt, with an image of an Aperol Spritz, also amused people. But both Naccarella and Latoff got called out for being American tourists who are disrespectful to local customs and laws. “I’m surprised at how angry people are, especially since we reconciled the situation immediately and our attitude was trying to be respectful,” she said. Continue Reading Article After Our Video Recommended Fodor’s Video Related: Lake Como’s New Message to Tourists: Put a Damn Shirt OnIt is absolutely the traveler’s responsibility to familiarize themselves with the laws of a destination. But what if it’s an honest mistake? If you’re not being a nuisance in public and simply did not know, maybe you should be given a pass. But if you’re fined by the authorities, that’s okay, too. No one should expect preferential treatment. And sometimes, “I’m sorry, I did not know,” and “I’m willing to pay the fine,” should be the end of the discussion. (This does not apply to people who swim in the Venetian canals or do stunts at Balinese temples—no excuses for unacceptable behavior.)In this case, Naccarella rectified the mistake before he was fined. “Great reminder to read up on local laws and respect them when you are visiting new countries. Enjoy your Euro summers and pack running shirts lol,” he concluded. Latoff said that she hopes people treat others with kindness, instead of being frustrated with tourists.Meanwhile, wearing a top or not wearing one is a whole other debate among runners and their spectators. Some people find it gross, saying that no one wants to see sweaty torsos while they may be eating on a terrace. Others don’t think it’s a big deal. Runners, especially long-distance runners, say that going shirtless prevents chaffing when they’re on the go for hours. It’s a frequent occurrence on trails and beaches, but some people put a shirt on when they’re in more crowded areas. A Reddit thread with people from different parts of Europe shared how their city views shirtless running, and the opinions are mixed. In many American cities, it’s not unusual or rare.Additionally, it is acceptable in some places and not in others. In many destinations—including European cities like Rome, Sorrento, Nice, Cannes, and Albufeira—councils have introduced laws requiring people to cover up outside of beaches. These destinations want tourists to maintain social decorum and behave well when they’re visiting. In Venice, fines can reach $300 to ensure that people respect its religious landmarks by not wandering in beachwear or shirtless.If you’re traveling to a new destination, it’s a good idea to quickly check what’s customary and lawful—laws change. In particularly fragile destinations and those overrun by tourists, locals have limited patience for faux pas. Tourists who have behaved deplorably have pushed them over the edge, so you might not get a pass. Try to do your best to adapt to the destination, instead of digging your heels in or assuming that the same rules apply.Related: These Surprising Things Can Get You Fined In Italy