The best place in the sun: more and more holidaymakers are reserving "their" sunbathing area on the beach overnight. This should stop. The Italian police are taking action ...
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The Italian police have carried out more than 31,000 checks in 520 municipalities so far this summer. In the process, the law enforcement officers detected 696 offences and levied fines totalling more than 365,000 euros!
More than half of Italy's coastline is covered by chargeable stabilimenti balneari operated. This makes the free beaches, where you can enjoy the sun and sea without paying, all the more sought-after. Small catch: space is often scarce here.
More and more holidaymakers are reserving the sunbathing area on the beach overnight this summer. (This also saves the annoying daily lugging around when it's almost 40 degrees). Sunbeds, parasols, folding chairs & Co. remain on site, are often secured with curtain or bicycle locks.
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Reserving a beach is forbidden
In order to curb the trend, fines of up to 1000 euros are being levied for the so-called "place markers". The phenomenon had become particularly prevalent in small bays in Liguria. On Elba, the police confiscated dozens of sunbeds, parasols and more. Holidaymakers protested: Nobody had pointed out that booking was a criminal offence.
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During the checks, illegal sunshade and sunbed renters were also caught in Sabaudia and Gaeta (both towns in Lazio), who wanted to earn money on the actually free beaches.
A similar phenomenon, the "towel war", was previously known from Mallorca and the Canary Islands. There, (some) Germans and Englishmen race through the hotel at 5.30 a.m. to secure A-location beds with a towel. You can also sleep in at home...
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When were you last in Rimini...?!
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written by Annie Kayser, first published on 25 August
Cover picture / montage: Policastro in Campania, (c) LA BELLA VITA club/Kayser
