The Italian town of Cinque Terre is cracking down on casual footwear this summer with a strict new policy: fines will be applied to hikers wearing flip-flops and sandals.
The picturesque coastal towns on Italy's Riviera have long attracted visitors eager to experience their pristine blue waters and spend time in the sun. However, the Cinque Terre National Park Authority is taking safety seriously by prohibiting inadequate footwear on the region's hiking trails.
The enforcement effort traces back to 2019, when park officials began discouraging visitors from wearing flip-flops, strappy sandals, and similar shoes because the trails can be very slippery. The local mountain rescue team introduced the warnings to reduce accidents on paths that pose genuine risks to unprepared hikers.
"These are difficult paths, in some cases, similar to mountain paths," Patrizio Scarpellini, director of the Cinque Terre National Park, told CNN Travel at the time. "Essential to have proper shoes!"
Now, the policy has moved beyond warnings. Visitors discovered hiking in flip-flops and sandals could face fines up to €2,500 (roughly US$2,900).
Despite the grandeur and majesty to be found in national parks, there lies a hidden trail fraught with missteps and pitfalls. From the novice wanderer to the seasoned explorer, visitors are often blind to the potential dangers that await if they aren’t careful.
But what are the biggest mistakes to look out for when visiting a national park? Click through this gallery to find out.