Spotorno beach concession dispute

A dispute has developed in Spotorno, Liguria, between the Suore di Carità di Santa Maria religious order and local authorities regarding the management of the Bagni Gino Garrone beach. The order has managed the approximately 50-meter stretch of coastline since 1946, using rental income from sunbeds and umbrellas to fund charitable initiatives such as a local nursery and summer camp.

Mayor Mattia Fiorini intends to reclassify the area as a “free equipped beach” to comply with the European Union’s Bolkestein Directive and regional mandates aimed at increasing public beach access. This reclassification would require the current concession to be reallocated through a public tender, forcing the religious order to compete with commercial entities.

The nuns argue that the loss of the concession would jeopardize the revenue necessary to sustain their social programs, contending that their status as a non-profit entity should exempt them from standard commercial rules. The situation has led to heated public meetings and local tension. Tenders are expected to be published between October and November, with new concessions slated for assignment in early 2027.