American Tourist Went Running Shirtless In Venice And Quickly Learned Why Locals Were Staring
Traveling internationally requires a little research, but there’s only so much you can prepare for. You check whether you need an adapter, learn a few basic phrases, and make sure your passport isn’t expired, but you probably don’t Google every possible way your shirtless torso could violate a local ordinance.
That’s how American tourists Julia Latoff and Mike Naccarella accidentally caused a stir while visiting Venice. The couple likes to explore new cities by going for runs, which sounds much healthier than my preferred method of finding the nearest place to drink.
On one particularly hot run, Naccarella took off his shirt without realizing that Venice prohibits visitors from going bare-chested in its streets and public squares. The couple corrected the mistake once a local spoke up, but the story followed them online, where people debated whether it was an innocent misunderstanding or another example of tourists failing to read the room.
Julia Latoff and her boyfriend, endurance athlete Mike Naccarella, like exploring new places by going for runs together
While visiting Venice, the American couple headed out for another sightseeing workout.
It was an especially hot day, so Naccarella decided to make the run more comfortable by leaving his shirt behind.
Everything seemed normal for the first several minutes, but then Latoff began noticing locals staring at them
The couple couldn’t figure out what was attracting so much attention.
Eventually, a man called out to let them know that Venice wasn’t a beach, giving them a pretty strong hint that the shirt was the problem.
After checking the local regulations, they discovered that going bare-chested or wearing swimwear in Venice’s streets and public squares is prohibited
The rule is intended to encourage respectful behavior around the historic city and its landmarks.
Anyone caught ignoring it can reportedly receive a fine of up to €250, which is a lot to pay for temporarily owning one fewer piece of clothing.
Fortunately, their friends found Naccarella a shirt, and he finished the run without receiving a fine
The couple immediately corrected their mistake, but their video still attracted plenty of criticism once it spread online.
Latoff said she was surprised by the hostility because they hadn’t knowingly ignored the rule and covered up as soon as they understood it.
Some commenters defended the couple, pointing out that most travelers don’t arrive with an encyclopedic knowledge of every local regulation.
Others argued that running shirtless through the narrow streets of a historic European city should have felt inappropriate even without knowing about the fine.
First, Some People Thought It Was An Honest Mistake And Everyone Needed To Relax
Others Agreed The Rule Was Unusual, But Said Venice Probably Isn’t The Best Place For A Shirtless Run
Then Came The People Who Thought The Couple Should Have Known Better
