Tourists can no longer walk around in a bikini in Sorrento

It’s one of Italy’s most popular tourist destinations. But if you have plans to travel there and walk around in a bikini, you’d better think twice.

When in a stunning coastal town like Sorrento, more often that not you will find tourists walking around in bikinis and swimmers during summer.

However, all that is about to change.

If you had plans on going to the popular Italian resort and thought to casually walk the streets in your cossie, it now comes with a hefty fine.

Mayor of Sorrento Massimo Coppola has banned the act to stop what he described as “widespread indecorous behaviour”.

He said bare flesh damaged the image of the town and would now incur fines of up to €500, equivalent to just over $A700, according to The Times.

Tourists can no longer walk around Sorrento, Italy, in a bikini. Pictured is Aussie actor Nicky Whelan while holiday in Sorrento in 2018.

He also claimed that tourists strutting around and exposing their skin was upsetting the local residents.

“The continuation of this situation, as well as causing discomfort and unease in the resident population and among visitors, could lead to a negative judgment on the quality of life in our town, with consequences for its image and for tourism,” Mr Coppola said.

Picturesque Sorrento, perched on sea cliffs in the Bay of Naples, will now have police patrolling the area to enforce the new ban.

The mayor of Sorrento claimed the exposed skin is offensive to locals.

The act has sparked debate online with some describing it as “strange”, while others favoured the mayor’s rule.

“We live in a seaside town and this time of year it can be quite offensive. Not nice at all,” a Facebook user wrote.

“Italians promenade in style, sadly the majority of others let the side down. Good on them,” another wrote, while a third added: “Those have always been the rules when on holiday. Bare flesh on the beach but the moment you are going into a hotel or cafe or town for lunch, pop on shorts and tees or a sarong. It’s just polite.”

You can now cop a fine of up to $A700 if you disobey the new rule. Picture: Alamy

The picturesque coastal town is near Pompeii and Naples. Picture: Alamy

One woman recalled a time 30 years ago when she was told to cover up.

“I remember being asked by a police officer to cover up because I was wearing a vest top!” she said.

“It’s the same in Marbella [southern Spain],” another person added. “Only allowed to be topless or in a swimsuit on the beach otherwise you have to cover up or subject to a €100 fine [$A148].”

Sorrento isn’t the only tourist hotspot that has enforced such bans. In the southern Italian town of Praia a Mare, the mayor extended the ban from inappropriate apparel to walking barefoot in town.

In Rapallo, northern Italy, the ban on skimpy dress is so consolidated that there are permanent street signs to remind visitors of the rules.

And in some parts of Spain you could land yourself in big trouble for parading around in a bikini in the wrong place.

In Barcelona, visitors can wear their swimwear at the beach or at a swimming pool, but popping into the town centre in your swimwear could see you copping a fine of up to $A445.

The same goes for Mallorca with bikinis limited to beaches and pools only and fines of up to $A900 for those who do not comply.