Flip-flop fines introduced in Italy’s Cinque Terre

Editor | March 7, 2019 | World | No Comments

(CNN) — Italy‘s Cinque Terre coastline has an almost mythic status among travelers — who hasn’t seen photographs of the pastel-colored houses built into rugged cliffs, surrounded by bright blue sea, and fallen instantly in love?

In person, the region’s even more spectacular — these five picturesque fishing villages are a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a reason.

But if you arrive this summer with only your flimsy sandals and flip-flops in tow, you might have a bit of a shock.

And if you choose to ignore the advice, you could face fines of between €50 ($56) and €2,500 ($2,826).

It’s all because mountain rescue teams are becoming increasingly exasperated with rescuing ill-prepared visitors on the mountainous walkways.

Flip-flop fail

Cinque Terre is a series of colorful fishing villages on the Italian Riviera.

Brian Beard/CNN iReport

They’ll be posters and flyers advertizing the fines — and warnings issued online when you purchase a Cinque Terre card, which allows you use of all the connecting park buses and trains and access to the trekking paths.

Currently, the English-language version of the Park’s website advises hikers to only go on trails which suit their skills — and to bring sun cream, a hat, hiking boots, food and other supplies.

The flip-flop ban is one of a series of moves to accommodate the thousands of visitors who disembark in Cinque Terre in summer.