WHEN it comes to beautiful hiking destinations, not many places beat Italy – but there is one top spot with some strict rules.
The Cinque Terre National Park in Italy spans 15sqm in the north of the country.
Home to over 75 miles of hiking trails, it is a popular spot due to its breathtaking landscapes and coastal location.
And while it is open to the public to explore, there is a major rule you need to be aware of.
Nowhere on the park’s marked hiking trails are you allowed to wear flip flops.
This includes backless sandals and shoes with smooth soles.
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In fact, any shoes deemed unsuitable for the trails – along with flip flop and sandals – could score you a fine of between €50 (£43.15) to €2,500 (£2,157.31).
Staff across the park, as well as guards, can carry out checks including stopping visitors to check they have the right footwear.
If you don’t have the right footwear, you could get fined on the spot or not be allowed to use the trails.
One trail where flip flops are banned is the famous Blue Path, which connects all five villages in the park.
The path takes between five and eight hours to walk from end-to-end, or longer if you want to explore the villages.
To do the Blue Path, you will usually need a Cinque Terre Card, which gives you access to the trails as well as local shuttle buses and museum discounts.
Flip flops are allowed in some areas though, including the villages in the park – Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
The park isn’t the only spot in Italy where you can’t wear flip flops though.
In Capri, a law that was created back in the 1960s bans people from wearing noisy shoes.
This includes flip flops, as well as squeaky sandals and even wooden clogs.