Cinque terre law about sandals

It's about footwear on the trails.

In the hiking trails.
€50 to €2500 fine for violators.

They say it's to prevent injuries, but it's basically part of the Italian culture to require as many bureaucratic restrictions as possible. It's in the Italian DNA. Soon they'll introduced a law requiring people to use sunscreen of SPF 50+ on the beach, aqua shoes in the water, helmets to dive in the water, lifesaver vest to swim in the sea, latex gloves to touch rocks, and so on.

This is the page of the park's website that references proper footwear on the trails:

https://www.parconazionale5terre.it/page.php?id=339

I sort of understand their point as you wouldn't believe the flimsy footwear some folks think will carry them safely over the many steps and loose, rocky surfaces. Great places to sprain/break an ankle in flipflops or strappy little "fashion" sandals, and lousy places to need a rescue to carry you out if you do. Same issue the rangers have in many of our National Parks.

No issue with less sturdy footwear in the villages, although they all involve a certain amount of rough or slippery surfaces, uphill climbs and steps.

I have to imagine that there must be the occasional person on a trial, maybe coming from Milan, wearing high heels. At least they’re not sandals.

Stilettos with Vibram soles, maybe?

Way too many people walking along the trails, which turn into hikes, wearing flip-flops or, cute strapy flats. Lets be honest, lot of Americans visit CT, many of them are of 'student age' from Florence, the words beach, ocean, and seaside equate to swim wear and sandals...and we're not talking about those thick rubber, closed-toe, Keen-type of sandals either.

Would be interesting if there's any data or, there's a collection of calls to EMS personal having to go out on the trail to treat someone who was wearing inappropriate footwear, as in they hurt their toes/foot/ankle. ...or, there's a busy-body admin who's taken it upon themselves to set regulations about attire and dress.

Since when Italians need data to enact new regulations? It's like the regulation that requires that people cannot stand still on a street in the historical center while eating a sandwich, they must walk and eat.

It's simply too many bureaucrats with too much time in their hands.

Roberto is there a mandatory condom law? Just askin.

You can't hike in Flip-Flops in the Cinque Terre just like in the small French village of Saint-Gervais there is a law against climbing the Mont Blanc wearing sandals and t-shirts.

In Switzerland now you a need federal license to take tourists rafting in the Alps. Where I learnt rafting when I was 15! Not because today the Swiss like to have a law about everything, but because in 1999 18 tourists and 3 guides drowned for the lack of basic gear and skills.

Flying an helicopter close to the cliffs to save tourists blocked on the higher trails is extremely dangerous for the pilots. Thanks to the "law" (and the signs), if you hike without proper shoes and someone must put his/her life at risk to save yours, at least they can make you pay for the fuel!

PS try to live 24/7 with a crowd of sandwich-eaters standing in front of your house-door. Or, better, try just once to propose a better solution for those who actually live there. We are all waiting.

I am afraid some actually want Florence historic center to be changed into a theme park.

@Brad.

Yes, you must wear it at all times. You never know when you might get lucky. It is always better to be prepared.