The coastal town of Sorrento has threatened tourists who bare their torsos with fines of up to €500, The Times reports.

Mayor Massimo Coppola said tourists showing too much skin are acting “contrary to decorum and to the decency that characterises civilised cohabitation”.

He described the situation as “causing discomfort and unease in the resident population and among visitors” and warned it could also “lead to a negative judgment on the quality of life in our town, with consequences for its image and for tourism”.

A local journalist recently compared the conduct of tourists to scenes from Dante’s Divine Comedy, calling for action to end “this macabre procession”.