American Tourists Go Viral After Breaking Little-Known Venice Law That Could Cost Visitors Nearly $300

VENICE, Italy — An American couple’s morning workout in Venice turned into an unexpected lesson in local etiquette after they discovered they had unknowingly broken a city law that can carry a fine of up to €250 (about $290).

Julia Latoff and her boyfriend, Mike Naccarella, were visiting the famous Italian canal city when Mike decided to go for a shirtless jog — something he regularly does at home in New York City. Within minutes, they noticed locals staring at them with visible disapproval.

The Mistake They Never Knew Existed

Confused by the reactions, the couple searched online and quickly realized Venice has banned people from walking or exercising shirtless in public spaces since 2018.

The ordinance was introduced to preserve decorum around the city’s historic streets and landmarks, including the area surrounding St. Mark’s Basilica. Violators can face fines of up to €250.

Latoff later admitted they had no idea the rule existed.

“We honestly thought it was normal because we’d done it in Florence and New York,” she explained in a social media video that has since gone viral.

They Immediately Changed Their Plans

Rather than continue running, the couple stopped and returned to get Mike a T-shirt before finishing their workout.

Latoff said they wanted to respect the city’s customs once they realized their mistake and later apologized publicly, describing the incident as an honest misunderstanding rather than intentional disrespect.

Their story has attracted millions of views and sparked heated debate online over whether visitors should be expected to know every local regulation before traveling abroad.

Venice Has Several Strict Tourist Rules

The shirtless ban is only one of several laws designed to protect Venice from overtourism and preserve its historic character.

Visitors can also be fined for:

• Swimming in Venice’s canals.
• Feeding pigeons in certain public squares.
• Littering or damaging historic monuments.
• Sitting or eating on protected historic structures in designated areas.

City officials say the regulations are intended to protect both residents and some of the world’s most treasured cultural landmarks.

A Reminder to Research Local Customs

The viral incident has become a cautionary tale for travelers heading to Italy.

While going shirtless may be perfectly acceptable in many American cities, Venice treats the behavior as inappropriate in its public streets and historic center. Similar dress-code and heritage-protection rules have also been introduced in several other popular Italian destinations in recent years.

For Latoff and Naccarella, the experience ended without a fine — but it left them with an important travel lesson.

Sometimes the biggest vacation mistake isn’t getting lost. It’s accidentally breaking a law you never knew existed.