A Canadian tourist has been issued with a €250 (£224 / $285) fine, after she was spotted sunbathing in a bikini while in Venice.
The unnamed 23-year-old woman was in Papadopoli Gardens near to the Piazzale Roma, wearing a two-piece swimsuit when police approached her and handed her the fine, The Express reports.
According to Venice city council: "It is forbidden to walk in public areas in swimming costumes or bare-chested."
The Italian city has introduced a number of new laws, of which tourists could fall afoul, including loitering on bridges and jumping in canals. Anyone spotting doing either of these things could be faced with a fine of €25 (£22 / £29) and €500 (£445 / $570).
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The city is also banning people from 'sitting down or lying down on the steps of bridges and in the doorways of historic monuments, as well as in front of shop windows'.
Earlier this year it was announced that the picturesque city was introducing a daily 'tourist tax', which costs visitors between €3 (£2.70 / $3.40) and €10 (£8.95 / $11.40) depending on what time of year. If tourists don't pay the charge, they can be fined €450 (£400 / $510).
The tax, which was set to be introduced in May but has since been pushed back until 1 September, will go towards services that keep the city looking spic and span, such as refuse collection and the cleaning of public areas.
Exemptions to the tax include those who are living, working or studying in the city, as well as kids under six, people visiting family and anyone staying in a Venetian hotel, because the price is already included in the room rates.
The new rules and regulations are all part of the #EnjoyRespectVenezia campaign, which was launched back in 2017 with the aim of encouraging visitors to the historical city to be more mindful.
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Luigi Brugnaro, the mayor of Venice, said: "This is a significant turning point in the management of Venice's tourist flows."
The city sees around 25 million visitors every year, and with that added footfall there are, of course, inevitable costs to keep things running as they should.
Veneto governor Luca Zaia added: "Venice needs respect, and as is the case with museums, sports stadiums, cinemas, trains and airplanes, it needs to have planned visits... which makes it sustainable both for tourists and the city."
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