Outrage in Italy as exclusive clubs ‘take over coast’ and ‘steal’ beaches from locals

Italians are up in arms over the mass privatisation of the country’s beaches.

Exclusive beach clubs, bars and restaurants are taking over the coastline, leaving locals with a shrinking number of free, public spaces.

Known as ‘stabilimento’, these clubs have been in Italy for decades. Customers pay a fee for sunbeds, umbrellas, food and drink and use of the facilities.

Until recently, the rest of the beach – usually most of it – remained open to the public for free.

But the thousands of clubs along the Italian coastline are expanding. The number of registered clubs has risen by 12% in recent years.

La Stampa, an Italian daily newspaper, called the growth ‘silent expropriation’ and blamed investors for ‘stealing’ the seaside.

‘Free beaches are becoming ever rarer. And those which are not free are ever more expensive.’

Ordinary Italians are not happy. The privatisation has sparked protests across the country, with locals demanding that their coastline be accessible to everyone.

Josi Della Ragione, mayor of Bacoli, near Naples, has ordered the demolition of unauthorised walls and fences. He has also returned 10,000 square metres of beach to the public.

‘For too long, beach operators have used the coast for their private gain. But I’m not giving up,’ he said.

Similarly, in Sicily, authorities ordered the removal of turnstiles from the coastal district of Mondello after beach clubs blocked public access to the shore.

Many Italians are now shunning beaches altogether and choosing to holiday in mountainous areas like the Dolomites.

At the same time, this region is dealing with overtourism. It’s a catch-22.

Italian newspaper Il Messaggero recently reported that residents are also swerving the coast to escape rising temperatures, partly caused by climate change.

Case in point: in July, the Italian Beach Resorts Union reported a 15% average drop in beach attendance across the country. In Emilia-Romagna and Calabria, that figure rose to 25% compared to the same months in 2024.

In Campania, Emilia-Romagna and Liguria, almost 70% of beaches are now under private control.

Worse still, Getteo in Emilia-Romagna is 100% under concession, Pietrasanta is at 98.8% and Camaiore in Tuscany is 98.4%, according to a 2023 case study.

Back in 2022, when I hopped on a local bus to explore the outskirts of Naples, I saw evidence of this.

Most beaches along the coastline weren’t accessible to the general public — on a scorching day, it was a nightmare.

You had to be a guest of the hotel or beach club to swim and sunbathe, or pay a fee at reception that granted you limited time on the beach. At the time, it was around €30 (£27) just for access.

Renting a sunlounger now costs, on average, 17% more than it did four years ago, according to consumer group Altroconsumo. For example, renting two loungers and an umbrella for less than €30 a day in the Lazio region is practically impossible.

In Gallipoli, a popular resort in Puglia, prices increase to around €90 (£78) during peak season.

Fabrizio Licordari, the president of Assobalneari Italia, an association that represents beach clubs, told Ansa news agency that the high cost of living is also responsible for the beach club decline.

He said: ‘Even with two salaries, many families struggle to reach the end of the month. In such circumstances, it’s natural that the first expenses to be cut are those for leisure, entertainment and holidays.’

What have travel experts said?

Alexandra Dubakova, travel expert with FreeTour, says the anger isn’t only about the higher sunbed prices.

For locals, privatised beaches mean the end of an informal and impromptu gatherings.

‘Practices that contributed to their community life, particularly those in smaller towns along the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian, are at risk.’

Alexandra also says that, for travellers and locals alike, a walk along the beach exposes you to a lot of people, their shared traditions and identity.

Now, Italy risks eroding the cultural education that makes travel so important.

‘Recent data and trends show that more tourists are seeking authentic cultural experiences,’ she says. ‘Privatisation offers the opposite through sanitised exclusivity.’

Ultimately, Alexandra thinks a sustainable solution would be to establish fair ratios of public and private beaches.

‘With a good balance, the locals won’t feel priced out of their own coastlines. On the other hand, tourists will also get to experience variety without guilt.’