Tourists Could Be Fined up to 2,500 Euro for Wearing Sandals in Cinque Terre
Planning a trip to Italy's Cinque Terre? Make sure to pack appropriate footwear.
Starting this summer, local authorities will start handing out fines ranging from €50 to €2,500 (that's about $57 to $2,830 at the current exchange rate) to people caught wearing flip-flops, sandals or pumps within the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the Ligurian coast. The five picturesque towns — Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore — are famous for their colorful houses built atop rocky cliffs overlooking the sea.
So what's all the fuss about flip-flops?
The Cinque Terre have become increasingly over-run by tourists ill equipped to hike the rocky, mountainous trails that connect the five villages, leading to some precarious situations. There are 48 hiking trails with various levels of difficulty and durations ranging from 15 minutes to more than three hours. Historically, these were the only roads connecting the towns, whose residents had no choice but to walk.
According to the Telegraph, volunteers from the Italian Alpine Club are tasked with rescuing hapless tourists who get stuck on the trails, but La Repubblica reported that, over the last few years, there has been an increase in the number of helicopter rescue missions conducted by firefighters who come to the aid of people who aren't adequately equipped with the proper shoes — and Italians, whose tax money is put toward such public services, are tired of paying for tourists' stupid mistakes.
"The fundamental problem is that too many people think they're at the seaside and so they can go around in flip-flops as if they're in Riccione, but this — even if it's facing the sea — is a real mountain with all of its hidden dangers," Patrizio Scarpellini, the park's director, told La Repubblica.
Scarpellini and his colleagues are bracing for a massive influx of tourists this year, as cruise ship passengers disembarking at the nearby port of La Spezia are expected to number 750,000, up from 450,000 passengers last year.
The Cinque Terre already restricts the number of people who can visit the national park each day and anyone who wants access must purchase a Cinque Terre Card, which costs €7.50 ($8.50) for one day or €14.50 ($16.40) for two days.
The park plans to begin with an informational campaign through the use of brochures and posters, but also might require tourists who purchase admission to the park online to confirm that they understand that they'll be denied entry to the park without adequate shoes. From there, they'll start issuing fines.
"Along with those who control the trails, forest rangers, under the guidance of Lt. Col. Silvia Olivari, will be tasked with informing visitors in a first phase," Luca Natale, a spokesperson for the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre, told TPG. "Then the fines will be levied."
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.