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With temperatures pushing into the high thirties across much of Spain this summer, the temptation to whip off a shirt and wander around in the heat is completely understandable. Perfectly legal too, in many places. But in a growing number of Spanish towns and cities, that decision could land someone with a fine that rather takes the shine off the holiday.

 

There's no blanket rule across Spain on going shirtless in public. Instead, individual local councils have the power to set their own ordinances on behaviour in public spaces, and several have done exactly that.

 

Alicante is one of them. The city's Civic Coexistence Ordinance explicitly prohibits "going naked or with the torso completely bare in public streets or public spaces, except on beaches, adjacent promenades, swimming pools, or other spaces where it is expressly authorised." The fine for ignoring that rule can reach €750.

 

Palma, the Balearic capital, takes a similar line. Its Municipal Ordinance for the Promotion of Civic Coexistence bans walking around without upper body clothing in public spaces, including public transport and facilities, though beaches, promenades and the roads immediately adjacent to them are exempt. Again, the maximum fine is €750.

 

Barcelona draws the line at €300 for the same offence, which is comparatively more lenient but still enough to make a dent in a holiday budget. The city's ordinance does carve out an exception for physical or sporting activity, so a shirtless jog through the park is technically fine, but a stroll around the Gothic Quarter is not.

 

It's not just major cities either. Marbella and Sant Antoni de Portmany in Ibiza both have rules in place, with fines of up to €750 in each case.

 

The practical upshot is simple enough. On the beach or by the pool, there's generally nothing to worry about. The moment someone heads into town for a coffee or a wander around the shops, it's worth throwing a shirt on, particularly in the cities and resorts where these rules are actively enforced.

 

The heat is no excuse, at least not in the eyes of the local Ayuntamiento.