Italian beachgoers leave behind sunglasses, wallets at seaside resorts

Managers of Italian beach establishments report a wide range of items left behind by visitors during the early summer of 2026. The most commonly forgotten objects are sunglasses, followed by sunscreen, toys, children's swimwear and flip‑flops. Other frequently recovered items include towels, keys, earphones, thermal bottles, e‑cigarettes, valuable watches, jewellery, mobile phones, tablets and wallets.

President of the Italian Beach Workers Union Antonio Capacchione said the unions try to locate owners; if that fails, valuable items are turned over to the police while the rest are donated to charitable NGOs. He noted that Italian beachgoers, especially families with children and the elderly, tend to be the most distracted, whereas foreign tourists are generally more careful and practice correct waste separation. The amount of plastic waste left on beaches continues to decline, attributed to ongoing ‘plastic‑free’ campaigns.

The assorted belongings are stored in a dedicated ‘prestilibro’ area where guests can retrieve books or other items in good condition. The total value of the unclaimed objects ranges from a few cents to several hundred euros, but the sentimental value often exceeds the monetary worth.