Topless Sunbathing in Italy

A mother of two boys has sparked a debate in Italy over topless sunbathing after she reported a woman to police because the way she applied suntan lotion was troubling her sons [Sounds unlikely, more likely enjoyed by the sons and troubling the mother].

The 26-year-old woman, identified only as Luisa under Italian privacy laws, was questioned by officers after they were brought to the scene by the unnamed mother.

She had initially asked the woman, an assistant in a fashion store, to cover herself up as her ample breasts and the act of rubbing cream on her body had troubled her sons aged 14 and 12.

The woman, who was sunbathing on a public beach at Anzio south of Rome, refused and so officers were called – much to the amusement of other holidaymakers who looked on as she remonstrated still topless.

The case has triggered a debate in Italy about topless bathing. Lawyer, Gianluca Arrighi, said: Something like this happening in 2010 is absurd. My client was approached and asked to cover up by the woman and she simply asked her what her problem was. The fact a file has been opened is compulsory following the complaint but I can't imagine any judge in 2010 convicting a woman for sunbathing topless. Let's be clear my client is tall, brunette and has an ample breast and is therefore going to naturally be sensuous when she applies cream to her chest.

Arrighi said that it was not illegal to sunbathe topless on a public beach, unless there is a local bylaw.

Topless sunbathing has dropped out of fashion in recent years. In both France and Italy far fewer people abandon their bikini tops when on the beach.

An Italian court has thrown out a complaint by a mother who said that her young sons were troubled by the sight of a busty young woman applying suntan lotion on the beach.

The Rome court took just a few minutes to reject the case, in which the mother-of-two had accused the 26-year-old woman of committing obscene acts in a public place.

Police in Italy were called after a row broke earlier this month out on a beach near Anzio, south of Rome, between the two women.

The mother had asked the fashion store assistant, identified only as Luisa under Italy's privacy laws, to cover herself up because her large breasts and the act of rubbing cream on them had troubled her sons aged 14 and 12.

After the court handed down its decision the young woman's lawyer, Gianluca Arrighi, said he had never had any doubt that the accusation of obscene behaviour was without substance. He pointed out that it was not illegal to sunbathe topless on an Italian beach and said it was not his client's fault if she had an ample bosom.

Luisa said she was heading to Greece on holiday this week, where she would continue to sunbathe topless: This whole business has ruined the first part of my summer holiday, she told Corriere della Sera.