In Italy, there are already beaches where men are prohibited entry
Beaches
If your memory still holds memories of running along a deserted sandy shore and burying yourself in the sand as a child, then Italian beaches will seem completely alien and unattractive to you. Instead of vast expanses of sand with rare fellow vacationers, you will see a narrow strip of sand brought in by local authorities, densely lined with deck chairs. However, an even greater shock for the inexperienced tourist is usually not this, but the fact that most Italian beaches are private and therefore paid.
Therefore, when choosing a hotel before your trip, check with your tour operator whether this hotel has its own beach and whether access is included in the room rate or not. Otherwise, you may face either unexpected additional expenses or the need to search for free beaches instead of relaxing.
As for the latter: they are quite difficult to find on your own, and locals are reluctant to help tourists in their search. Plus, such beaches are usually heavily polluted, overcrowded, and have a high rate of theft. Therefore, if you don't want to spoil your long-awaited trip, it's better to pay a little extra and use a private beach. It should be noted that the cost of a stay on a particular beach directly depends on which additional services you choose – just entering the beach is inexpensive, but if you want, for example, to put a mat on the sand or set up an umbrella, it will cost you a bit more.
We advise you not to skimp and immediately get an umbrella and a deck chair – it's not much more expensive, but you'll get several times more enjoyment. Moreover, many paid Italian beaches have free Wi-Fi, so while lying on a deck chair, you can check your email, browse the latest news, or take some online tests if you have a PDA or laptop.
Swimming
Swimming in the sea is a great way to cool off on a hot summer day. But before going into the water, you need to take basic safety measures. First, no matter how good a swimmer you are, find out if there are lifeguards on the beach. In Italy, they are usually dressed in red uniforms, so you can easily spot them. If there are no lifeguards, it is better to abandon the idea of swimming there.
When you see a lifeguard, go up to him and find out what the signs on the buoys mean – for the inexperienced tourist, understanding them may not be so simple, and a mistake can be costly. Therefore, it is better to learn about all dangers in advance – after all, say, a burn from contact with a jellyfish is clearly not what you dreamed of when planning your vacation. Overall, the sea here is quite safe and can provide many pleasant moments for swimmers.
Clothing
On Italian beaches, it is considered perfectly normal for men to be in swim trunks and women in a two-piece swimsuit. However, once you leave the beach, you should get dressed immediately – appearing with a bare torso for men or in just a swimsuit in areas outside beaches may offend locals.
Getting Ready for the Trip
When going on vacation to the coast of Italy, be sure to bring a good sunscreen. Trying to buy it here may not be easier, because locals use mahogany-based tanning products that offer only minimal skin protection. And these are not very suitable for residents of Northern Europe and the CIS countries.