British tourists travelling to a Greek island have been warned that wearing one particular kind of shoe could land them in big trouble and leave them liable to a hefty fine
As the cold winter months approach, many UK holidaymakers will be keen to book a trip that will allow them to enjoy some winter sun. Popular hotspots like the Canary and Greek Islands will likely see an influx of British tourists over the next few months, who are desperate to get away from the short days, cold weather, and seemingly endless rainy days.
However, holidaymakers planning on visiting one particular Greek island anytime soon need to be aware of one quite unusual law surrounding footwear, that if ignored could see them landing on the wrong side of the law and facing a pretty hefty fine – something that would be bound to put a dampener on any holiday.
This footwear law also applies to certain areas of mainland Greece, and it has actually been in place for fifteen years since 2009 – but tourists still can easily fall foul of the restriction if they are visiting ancient sites.
When holidaymakers visit sites of historical importance throughout Greece, one type of shoe is absolutely forbidden: high heels. Now, you might be surprised that anyone would decide to wear heels when visiting ancient sites like the Acropolis or the Epidaurus Theatre, the kind of day trips that often involve a lot of walking and traipsing up and down steps in hot weather, but for some people, style simply comes first.
However, anyone donning a pair of stilettos for a day of historical sightseeing may well end up in some serious trouble, facing a fine of up to £771 – which would seriously add to your overall holiday costs.
The reason high-heeled shoes are banned is because of the damage they can do to these ancient sites of incredible historical importance. “Female visitors must wear shoes that do not wound the monuments. These monuments have a skin that suffers and people must realise that,” said Eleni Korka, Director of Greek Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, the year the ban was put in place – per Tyla.
Greece isn’t the only popular tourist destination that has implemented strict rules and fines to ensure the continued safety of these crucial monuments. Rome has banned visitors to the Spanish Stairs from sitting down on the famous landmark, and those who flout this rule can reportedly face hefty fines of £210 – more than enough to spoil your holiday.
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