Is it accurate that restaurants in Rome do not allow men to enter if they are wearing Burmuda shorts? I can understand this for the evening meal, but for the regular not upper scale restaurant it seems unusual. Many thanks

I doubt it, but I usually do not wear shorts in big cities. If you are one who does, get the pants with the zippable legs and zip them on when going to the restaurant.

hi hav,

i don't remember us having any trouble in restaurants in Rome [or Florence or Venice, come to that] when either DH or DS were wearing shorts.

two things may have been a factor in this: we don't go to restaurants where attire is important, and they were very decent shorts. [think scout master]

where did you hear/read this?

Casuale cafes, sandwich shops, pizzerias, tavolda caldas and average restaurants will not stop a man wearing bermuda shorts from entering (although not sure why he can;t wear big boy pants in a major city).

If you go for upscale restaurants they may suggest the potential diner change his clothes - or they may sit you in dark corner so other diners won;t have to look at his hariy legs while eating. Although frankly - if it were me and a pleasant restaurant and he insisted on wearing shorts he would find himself eating alone.

He might think about wearing long pants in major cities, especially if he will be entering the many churches that are an important part of sightseeing in Rome, and elsewhere in italy. I say this only because you cared enough to ask the question.

Many thanks. I have not been to Italy since 1959 when I spent about 3 weeks traveling with a friend while in the army. No shorts back then !! After about 5 days in Rome my wife and I will hop on a Clipper Ship and sail around western Italy with appropriate tourist stops and then to Sicily, over to Corfu, Greece and up the Adriatic with many stops and then over for a few days in Venice and a few days in Milan and back to New England. I am happy to say that we are able to do this after getting new body parts such as hips and knees! May all who read this be as fortunate.

Shorts are no problem, except when entering St. Peter's

Sounds like quite the adventure. Definitely pack your Bermuda shorts you will be fine aside from the classiest of places! Have Fun out at sea!!!

Shorts are no problem, except when entering St. Peter's>>

sadly that is incorrect. DH [wearing a most decent pair of shorts such as would not disgrace a scout master] was thrown out of santa maria in aracoelli, and made to wear a sarong in a church in Florence.

I'm sure that such sophisticates as ny might say that it's his own fault, and I might agree but he prefers them, so he has to put up with the disadvantages too.

but if you want to see the inside of churches in Rome, hav2, [or indeed eat with nytraveller] it would be a good idea to wear "grown-up trousers" or those with zippable legs.