Italy Makes New Bans & Rules To Address Overtourism On Its Beaches

It was recently reported that Venice in Italy is introducing a tourist entry fee in an effort to reduce overtourism. Now, the trend is continuing on a number of Italian beaches. Changes are being made to not only avoid overtourism, but to protect the shores from sand erosion and other damage. New bans relate to swimwear and towels, while identity bracelets are being introduced. Read on to find out what you need to know before heading to the beaches of Italy this summer.

Bans on swimwear

Swimwear bans are being introduced in Sorrento, a gorgeous and highly popular destination in the high season (Easter to October). The crowds head here for the sunshine and easy access to the Amalfi Coast, Naples, Capri and Rome. However, Massimo Coppola, the mayor of Sorrento, doesn’t like the idea of tourists strolling the streets in their beachwear, despite the summer heat.

In fact, just last week, Coppola announced new rules for those walking around bare-chested or wearing swimwear. Those wearing bikinis, swimming trunks and swimsuits away from the beaches or pools in Sorrento could face hefty fines of up to €500 ($505).

Apparently, locals disapprove of people walking the streets and visiting shops clad for the beach. Coppola told The Times that they treat the town like one giant beach and that this causes “unease” and “discomfort” to local residents.

Coppola posted on his Facebook page, writing, “in a town where the quality of hospitality is internationally recognized, respect for places and urban decor becomes necessary.”

Other Italian towns enforcing bans

The town of Rapallo on the Italian Riviera and Praia a Mare in Calabria are also instituting similar rules. However, on top of the ban on swimwear in the street, visitors are also prohibited from walking around barefoot. Meanwhile, the seaside location of Cinque Terre is also imposing fines on footwear of up to €2,500 ($2,545) for those wearing flip-flops or sandals when hiking the famous coastal paths.

Identity bracelets, towel bans and caps on visitors

Spriaggia della Pelos is a popular seaside town in Sardinia and attracts thousands of beachgoers every day. The beaches are so perfect here that they are regularly voted among the best in Italy for their clean sand and crystal-clear waters. However, “thanks” to human interference, the beach is losing sand at an alarming rate. For this reason, authorities are trying to cap visitor access to 1,500 people daily.

Euronews reports that the town is also banning towels to protect the sand, as this often gets caught up in towels when packed away. Now, visitors will need to pay to rent a sun lounger instead. Meanwhile, an entry fee of €3.50 ($3.56) is payable and visitors must wear yellow identification bracelets while on the beach.

Meanwhile, other popular Sardinian beaches are introducing visitor caps, including Brandinchi (3,330 beach-goers per day) and Lu Impostu (1,500 people per day).

Entry fees for public beaches

Known for its beautiful and pristine coastline, Italy boasts some of the best beaches in Europe. However, access to the sea is a big issue here, as more and more beaches are snapped up by beach resorts and turned into private spaces. Here, visitors generally have to pay to enter and to use umbrellas, sun loungers and other beach facilities.

It turns out more than 50 percent of Italy’s coastline has been taken up by private concessions, despite being on public land. According to Legambiente, an environmental association, the number of private beach establishments has doubled in the last two decades. In fact, some beaches, such as Alassio on the Italian Riviera charge visitors up to €380 ($387) for a sun lounger in August.

Where can you sunbathe for free?

Legambiente states in a report that finding a free place to sunbathe freely is becoming increasingly difficult. In fact, bathing concessions are increasing and currently affect more than 50 percent of Italy’s beaches. Meanwhile, the Italian Ministry of Health says that 8 percent of beaches in Italy cannot be used due to pollution. In fact, this is especially in Calabria, Campania and Sicily. The report added:

The result is that the free and bathing beaches in our country is reduced on average to 40 percent, but with great differences between the regions.

Currently, some public beaches are free to enter. However, others are now charging small cover fees to protect the dunes and vegetation from tourists. This is especially so in Sardinia, where beaches get overcrowded in the summer season. The idea is to put the entry fees towards beach maintenance.

On top of this, Cala Brigantina and Cala Coticcio in La Maddalena National Park in Sardinia now require visitors to book entry slots. Moreover, tourists will be charged €3 ($3) per person to access the sand. A number of other beaches are starting to introduce small entry fees. It’s a good idea to keep some euro coins handy in beach bags to be on the safe side.

While these new rules might sound daunting, bear in mind that Italy needs to preserve its beautiful coasts for us to enjoy.