Italian authorities are closing private beach clubs in several regions and converting them into free public beaches, after growing frustration with owners who have expanded into more coastal space while charging inflated prices, according to Tagesschau.
In Ostia, Rome's city beach, the local council ordered several private beach clubs closed and demolished during the peak holiday season. A public beach will be built in their place, freely open to everyone.
Rome's authorities plan to expand the free section of Ostia's coastline from the current 1.2 kilometres to 6.5 kilometres, out of 11.3 kilometres of total beach. The number of private beach clubs there is set to fall from 70 to just 35.
Why Italy's Coastline Is Contested
As in other European countries, Italy's coastline technically belongs to the state, meaning that under the law the shore is supposed to be free and open to the public everywhere. In practice, however, more than half of the country's beaches are under private lease. For years, authorities looked the other way, letting operators rent the space informally at strikingly low prices.
Thousands of Beach Clubs Along the Coast
Along Italy's 7,500 kilometres of Mediterranean coastline, thousands of private beach establishments, known locally as stabilimenti balneari, rent out sunbeds and umbrellas. Officially there are more than 7,300 of these operations, though the real number may be considerably higher. Most are family-run businesses.
Renting two sunbeds and an umbrella currently costs around 40 euros a day on average. In some regions, including Tuscany, prices can run significantly higher.
Blue Flag Beaches and a Booking Rush
As of May 2026, Italy had 525 beaches carrying the Blue Flag environmental award. But heavy demand this summer has forced tourists to book spots in advance at some of the country's most popular beaches, a service that, unsurprisingly, is not free.
