The seaside paradise of Positano on Italy’s jaw-droppingly gorgeous Amalfi Coast is famous across the globe for its picture-perfect turquoise waters, elegant hotels and colourful cliffside villas that cascade down to the sea. Spending time here without taking at least eleventy billion photos would require a truly superhuman effort. 

But now it appears that the endless parade of pesky shutterbug tourists has raised the ire of the locals. Italian news outlet Il Post has reported that the Positano mayor has set up two ‘red zones’ in the resort town’s most scenic areas. Anyone who spends too long lingering there – whether you’re trying to nab the perfect shot, waiting for your boat to arrive or simply too awestruck with your stunning surrounds to move – will cop a fine of up to €275 (approx. 450 AUD). 

The reasoning behind the fines is that loitering humans cause human traffic jams which, in turn, can cause safety issues. Sure, no one wants to watch a hapless tourist fall to their death, iPhone still in hand, from a viewing platform. But wouldn’t safety barriers be a slightly less unpopular idea? Just sayin’.

According to Il Post, the red zones include “the area between Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta and the Calata Marconi quay to the north, and that between the square and the public toilets of the Umberto I pier, to the south.” So anywhere overlooking the sea, really. 

The restrictions are already in force, and are expected to stay that way until mid-October. However, to date, it’s unclear whether anyone has actually been fined. It would certainly make for a unique photo opportunity, though.

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