A ban on beach umbrellas has been introduced on beaches in Italy
New rules for tourists are in effect at the popular Italian beach of Punta Molentis in Sardinia. Visitors are prohibited from setting up umbrellas on the sand, with the exception of certain categories of people.
To access the beach, visitors must also pay an entrance fee of about 10 euros. At the same time, most vacationers must sunbathe without additional sun protection.
The use of umbrellas is permitted only for a limited group—children under 10 and people over 65, for whom an exception has been made due to special needs.
Why are umbrellas banned on an Italian beach?
Tourists are already outraged by the new rule, as it leaves everyone between the ages of 10 and 65 vulnerable to heatstroke and sunburn. People on social media are also unhappy with the restriction and consider it a health hazard.
On the city council’s page, locals joke that now, for 10 euros, you can roast in the sun without any protection.
The restriction takes effect on June 5 and will last until October. During this time, there will also be a fee to enter the beach—only people with disabilities and their companions can avoid it.
It is prohibited to set up not only umbrellas, but also gazebos, tents, or any other shading structures. Only families with children under 10 or elderly people may set up a single large umbrella for everyone.
“True luxury: 40-degree heat, not a shred of shade, but at least you can say you’ve done your part for the environment… with your sweat,” noted one commenter.
However, the municipality claims that the reason for the umbrella ban is a necessary step, and it is not related to environmental protection, but to the safety of the beachgoers themselves. The ban on umbrellas is intended to help avoid a scenario that unfolded last year: dozens of beachgoers had to be evacuated by boat after a fire broke out in the area.
Punta Molentis Beach is extremely popular, and its overcrowding and large number of umbrellas made it impossible to evacuate people by land.
"It was precisely because of this fire and the difficulties we faced during the evacuation from the beach due to the huge number of umbrellas set up that the municipality introduced this rule," said a municipal spokesperson.
What other rules are there on Sicilian beaches?
If you decide to spend your vacation in sunny Sicily, you should first familiarize yourself with the local beach rules—and there are quite a few of them. Here are the main ones to remember:
- stealing sand – a €3,500 fine;
- a ban on beach towels on several beaches – a €100 fine;
- In addition, many beaches have time limits on how long you can stay.
CNN reports on this.
