Why are beaches not free in Italy?

By law, Italian beaches are public land, but that doesn't necessarily mean people can freely access them. The government has long given over the management of much of its 5,000-mile coastline to businesses that plant umbrellas and chairs in the sand almost up to the water and charge beachgoers to use them.



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According to the newspaper 'Le Repubblica', on average, the cost of one umbrella and two loungers for a day on the beach in 2022 in Italy is: Liguria: 20-40 Euro. Veneto: 13-40 Euro. Emilia Romagna: 20 – 40 Euro.

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Swimming is welcome at most of the beaches lining the coast, with majority free from rough currents and high tides.

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You can visit public, government-owned beaches (spiaggia pubblica) or private beaches (stabilimento balneare or bagno). There are differences between the two — for example, at a private beach resorts in Italy you will be charged for beach chairs and umbrellas.

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Camping is forbidden but no one will bother you only because you're spending the night on a beach. As long as you respect the place, collect your waste and don't get the place dirty, it will be ok (and funny, according to my memories).

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Mains water is limited to a fixed, metred amount, properties exceeding the amount will face a higher charge. Outdoor water (such as swimming pools, stand pipes for gardening) are billed separately but from the same water supplier. Bills are normally sent twice a year and based on metre readings.

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Cefalù is one that we can't wait to visit as soon as we return to Sicily. The best beach here is the main Cefalù beach, Spiaggia di Cefalù. It is a long sandy beach and packed with beach clubs. There is free beach space but you need to get there early in the high season to snag a spot.

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But not all these seaside areas are equally welcoming to sunbathers. In Italy, beaches are either free or maintained by beach clubs. These clubs are called stabilimenti balneari or simply bagni. To sunbathe on a free beach, called quite literally a spiaggia libera, you bring your towel or chair, find a spot and enjoy.

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With its towering cliffs, the Italian Coast is best suited for hiking, walking and exploring its colorful towns. Swimming beaches exist, but they are small. In contrast, Spanish beaches, like those on the sunny Costa del Sol or near San Sebastian, are usually wider, sandier and better for swimming and sunbathing.

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Introduction to Sicilian Climate: From May to October, the weather in Sicily is warm enough to sunbathe & swim from the many beautiful beaches around Sicily's stunning coastline and seaside resorts.

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Yes, Sorrento has several beaches and since it sits on a clifftop, its' beaches are not well known but despite it's rocky coasts and plunging cliffs is really is worth taking a dip in its waters.

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