Almost every meter of the coastline at popular Italian resorts is occupied by private beaches. They have everything – from umbrellas and comfortable sunbeds and loungers to spacious changing rooms with showers and cafes. One could only rejoice at such comfort if it weren't for one 'but.' Comfort is expensive – tens of euros, which is far from affordable for all vacationers.
Crowds of locals, as always, flocked this summer to the city and municipal beaches, where another unpleasant surprise awaited them. No matter when they came to the city beach of Diano Marina, there were never enough spots. The few bathers, all uniformly elderly, spread their towels in the most 'strategic' positions, under the trees and closer to the sea, and claimed that their friends and relatives, for whom they had 'saved' the most convenient spots, would arrive any minute. The friends and relatives did indeed come, but not 'any minute' – they strolled in leisurely around 10-11 am. When the citizens' patience ran out, they began filing complaints with the municipality. From there, an order came to the Diano Marina lifeguard service to look into the matter.
The lifeguards arrived at the city beach before six in the morning. By that time, several dozen towels were already neatly laid out on the sand, with six elderly people pacing between them with a belligerent look. After fining the pensioners for violating the law, the lifeguards promised to patrol the city beach every day if necessary to maintain order.
Diano Marina is not a unique town. Similar things happen everywhere in Italy. In the neighboring resort of Chiavari, for example, the 'smartest' vacationers leave umbrellas and sunbeds locked with padlocks overnight on the city beach, so they can come the next day and claim ready-made spots. Moreover, before the summer season, the municipalities of coastal resorts decided to equalize the rights of all Italians regardless of their financial status and obliged owners of paid beaches to allow anyone who wants to swim to pass through their territory for free. Beach owners, naturally, did not like this decision. Attendance at private recreation areas plummeted. After all, people who paid for entry have the right to expect peace and quiet, but instead they have to put up with 'stowaways' scurrying back and forth and disturbing their rest.
Moreover, the local authorities' ruling was drafted hastily, without considering the 'nuances of the moment.' For example, a five-meter-wide strip of shore, through which 'stowaways' must enter and exit the sea, is considered public property accessible to everyone. At the same time, they are forbidden not only to sit, lie down, or sunbathe near the water but also to place any items on the sand. Including towels and shoes! It turns out that freeloaders are required to enter the paid beach already undressed and barefoot. Then they must walk to the sea without stopping, take a quick swim, and likewise leave the beach area without stopping.
Representatives of the Consumer Association, who monitor compliance with the ruling, now go on daily raids on private beaches with tape measures in hand. In their opinion, the new rule should apply to everyone. They believe that vacationers who paid for entry to a private beach also have no right to lie on the five-meter strip in sunbeds or leave towels and other items near the water.
By the way, 'beach wars' are not limited to Italy. Billionaire David Geffen, founder and owner of DreamWorks studio, long tried to close the path leading to the public beach in front of his Malibu villa, but after three years of litigation, he lost and was forced to give way. In Norway, the law allows free walking on 'uncultivated' land, which includes all beaches. Owners of several seaside houses are currently suing the authorities and demanding its repeal.
Sergei LAVINOV. Novye Izvestiya