Varenna, by Lake Como in Italy, has banned shirtless strolling and swimwear away from beaches. Instant fines of €50 to €200 now apply to anyone walking village streets in bare chests, risqué wear, or bathing attire alone.

These changes form part of new urban, police-enforced regulations that took effect on June 27 after multiple complaints were received from locals about foreigners, mostly, stripping off where it was not considered appropriate. The council introduced the measures to ease pressure from rising visitor numbers on a community of roughly 650 permanent residents.

Noisy foreign tourists stripping off

Mayor Mauro Manzoni expressed pride in receiving hundreds of thousands of guests yearly yet insisted local quality of life must stay protected. “Residents cannot see their daily comfort sacrificed for the sake of mass tourism,” he said.

Tour guides and operators will also find extra controls under the same package. Groups stay limited to 25 people maximum while loudspeakers and any form of voice amplification face are outright prohibited. Guides who break those limits risk being instantly slapped with a fine of between €100 and €400 and possible bans lasting several months from leading tours through the village.

Tourists must stop milling around

Public spaces also receive further safeguards under new rules. Groups cannot obstruct pathways or gather on designated roads, piazzas or bridges, keeping movement open for everyone who lives or visits there.

Shop owners across Varenna have given the rules strong local backing. Proper dress suits shops, restaurants, churches and the main square, one trader noted, while swimwear stays suitable only by the water. Enforcement is essential, another owner added, describing the step as timely and well judged.

Several other Italian towns adopt same strict view

Several Italian destinations have already taken comparable action against disruptive habits. Sorrento previously imposed heavy fines after labelling bare-chested walking and town swimwear as widespread indecorous behaviour. Portofino later banned certain selfies and created no-waiting zones to stop crowds lingering in tight spots.

Narbonne in France has threatened clothing fines of its own. Spanish destinations have made similar rules and fines common across many cities, towns and villages for tourists who remain underdressed once they leave the coast.

Online comments from readers worldwide largely support Varenna’s stance. Many call the dress code a reasonable minimum standard applied evenly. Others recall the traditional Italian practice of changing in cabanas before entering streets or businesses and urge wider adoption of group-size limits in crowded heritage sites.

Clear expectations now form how visitors should appear while exploring when away from the waterfront.

As we near the end of the World Cup battle of 2026, we wonder if it will be Spain or Argentina that get to take home the glory and lift the famous trophy. Every World Cup-winning captain since 1974 has lifted the same iconic prize. Yet, the story of Silvio Gazzaniga, the Milanese sculptor who created it, and the tale of the design is not commonly known to most people.

Why FIFA needed a fresh design

Under tournament rules in 1970, any nation that won the World Cup three times was allowed to keep the trophy permanently. When Brazil achieved this milestone that year, they walked away with the original Jules Rimet Trophy, leaving FIFA with the sudden mammoth task of designing a brand-new replacement worthy of the global game.

An international design competition attracted 53 entries from artists across 25 countries. Among them was Gazzaniga, an employee at the renowned trophy manufacturer G.D.E. Bertoni. Rather than submitting simple sketches, Gazzaniga took a gamble and produced a three-dimensional plaster model. The tactile submission allowed judges to truly appreciate the fluid movement and symbolism of his vision, securing him the winning bid.

Symbolism in gold

Gazzaniga wanted the trophy to express the emotional peak of sport rather than just raw victory. His design depicts two stylized human figures rising in spirals to support the globe. As he later explained, he wanted to capture the dynamic energy of an athlete’s struggle, the exhilaration of triumph, and the universal joy shared by supporters.

Born in Milan in 1921, Gazzaniga trained at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts before building a distinguished career creating prestigious silverware, including the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 95, leaving behind his iconic work.

The trophy stands 36.5 centimetres tall, weighs 6.175 kilograms, and is forged from solid 18-carat gold. Its base features two bands of green malachite, emulating the pitch, with the underside engraved with the name of every winning nation since 1974.

Who now keeps the original?

One of the footballs misconceptions is that World Cup winners take the golden trophy home forever. In reality, the original masterpiece never leaves FIFA’s possession permanently. The victorious captain lifts the genuine article during the stadium presentation before it is returned to safekeeping.

Instead, the winning nation receives a gold-plated bronze replica to display. This strict protocol was directly influenced by the fate of the original Jules Rimet Trophy. After being permanently awarded to Brazil, it was stolen in Rio de Janeiro in 1983 and never recovered.

Gazzaniga’s design has been untouched in design since its 1974 debut. By now ensuring the original trophy never permanently leaves its possession, FIFA has created a wonderful sporting tradition where every generation of champions lifts the exact same piece of history.

Residents and tourists in Mijas Costa have recently watched in shock as a young injured wild boar limped through urban streets beside dog-walkers and young families at dusk last Saturday, July 18. A metre-long arrow had pierced its left side. The animal grunted in pain while following its mother and other members of the sounder.

Boar numbers create ongoing problems across Andalucia

Wild boars have become a major issue in many parts of Andalucia, especially along the Malaga coast. Local people express growing worry about frequent encounters in residential zones where they have begun to become daily life, in spite of the often aggressive nature they display and the risk of disease.

Witnesses contact police over visible injury and danger

Several passers-by alerted the local police to the injured boar. It stayed in the area for around an hour until sunset. No police units or specialist animal capture teams arrived during that time.

Tourist and local residents raise the alarm

A tourist from Northern Ireland on holiday in the Costa del Sol stopped upon seeing the scene and called the police. Two local residents of Armenian origin also contacted authorities. They often see sounders of wild boars and say that the animals usually cause no trouble if left alone. This case left them particularly concerned because of the visible wound.

Lack of immediate response from Mijas police adds to frustration

The incident goes to show the increasing difficulties in managing wild boar populations in populated areas. Many locals want faster action when injured animals appear in urban zones. Authorities continue to face challenges in balancing public safety with animal welfare.

Arguments and groups against culling wild boars with bow and arrow

Animal welfare groups and ecologists strongly oppose this method. Ecologistas en Acción in Mijas has called for the revocation of contracts with archers. They argue that arrows cause prolonged suffering far greater than bullets, as wounded animals can linger in pain for extended times. A lightly injured boar becomes stressed and potentially more dangerous to people due to its size and aggression.

Veterinarians, including representatives from the Malaga College of Veterinarians, describe archery as ineffective and cruel. They say that there are risks of animals escaping wounded into urban areas. Animal rights advocates and some residents emphasise ethical concerns and question the humaneness of bow hunting in populated zones.

Other alternatives to deal with boar plagues in Mijas

Local councils have explored or implemented several options:

• Live capture traps or cages (capturaderos): Mijas has awarded contracts for this approach, followed by euthanasia by lethal injection.
• Population management through coordinated hunting in rural areas, including authorised hunts (batidas).
• Public education and fines for feeding boars, which encourages them into towns (fines start at €250–€750).
• Habitat and waste management: Better fencing, rubbish control, and deterrents around urban edges.
• Sterilisation or fertility control programmes (discussed in some regions, though less common).
• Relocation efforts where feasible, though challenging for large numbers.

Authorities stress the need for regional coordination across the Costa del Sol, as boars move between areas.