Italian Beach Privatization Triggers Public Access Struggles

An investigation by the Guardian found that nearly half of Italy’s roughly 8,000 km of sandy coastline is under private concession, with about 30,000 beach establishments controlling the shore. In the upscale Versilia region, more than 90 % of the waterfront in Forte dei Marmi is leased to resorts, while in Naples the private share approaches total control and the regional average sits around two‑thirds.

Local authorities are pushing back. Bacoli’s mayor, Josi Della Ragione, is using the municipality’s ownership of 60 % of its coastal land to dismantle illegal structures, some linked to organized‑crime groups, that block public access. The controversy is amplified by EU competition rules that could force the tendering of marine concessions, prompting concerns that beaches may become a luxury commodity. The debate involves tourism economics, regional politics and long‑standing legal battles over the public nature of the seashore.