A popular Sardinian beach has introduced a draconian ban on umbrellas and tents for anyone aged between 10 and 65, a measure local authorities claim is essential for public safety but which critics have slammed as a cynical attempt to monetise the shoreline.
A drastic rule born from a wildfire
The new rules at Punta Molentis beach on the island’s southern coast mean that only families with children under 10 and holidaymakers over the age of 65 are permitted to erect a single umbrella per group. For everyone else, the use of parasols, gazebos, tents or any other form of shade structure is strictly prohibited.
The radical step was taken after dozens of bathers had to be evacuated by boat last year when a wildfire swept through the area. Officials said the sheer overcrowding and a dense forest of tightly packed umbrellas made a land-based evacuation impossible. “It was precisely because of that fire and the difficulties we faced in clearing the beach, due to the enormous quantity of umbrellas pitched there, that the municipality introduced this rule,” a spokesperson for the Villasimius administration said.
The spokesperson added that as the beach is a free stretch of coastline where paid concessions are banned, visitors tend to set up their equipment practically on top of one another, blocking access, creating multiple hazards and completely obscuring the sea view.
A ticket to sunburn
The measure — one of several being introduced by the authorities and met with widespread ridicule — coincides with the launch of a €10 entry fee, effective from June 5 until the end of October. Entry will be free only for disabled people and their carers.
Beachgoers have responded with mockery and acerbic comments, arguing that the introduction of a charge only incentivises people to spend the entire day on the sand to get their money’s worth. One commenter on the municipal website wrote: “How lovely, a beautiful day at the beach and 20 hours in A&E with sunburn. I think they’ve already tried this, and it’s fried their brains.”
The price of an Italian slice of sand
Italian beach infrastructure is renowned for its high level of organisation and corresponding costs. A day at a paying beach club can range from €100 to €500 for a sunlounger and umbrella, while seasonal reservations can run into the thousands of euros. In recent years, Sardinia has introduced other unusual rules, such as a ban on removing sand from the beach under threat of fines of up to $3,500. In many coastal towns, bathers are required to use straw mats instead of towels to prevent sand from being accidentally carried away in the fibres.
To tackle overcrowding, many Italian beaches have also implemented strict time limits; those arriving by boat, for instance, may be allowed to stay for no more than an hour and a half, while a spot on the sand must be reserved and paid for online.
