Italian nuns who have managed a Ligurian beach resort for nearly 80 years face losing control of it after the mayor of Spotorno announced plans to reclassify their concession as a free public beach and put it out to competitive tender.
The Suore di Carità di Santa Maria have run the Bagni Gino Garrone beach since 1946, renting out sunbeds and umbrellas to fund charitable projects. Under Mayor Mattia Fiorini's proposal, the tender is expected this autumn, and the nuns would no longer be able to charge for beach spots, forcing them to rely on donations.
The move is part of a broader push to expand free beach access. Currently, only 3.5 percent of Liguria's coastline is freely accessible, against a 40 percent regional target. Italy faces a June 2027 deadline to comply with the EU's Bolkestein directive on public tenders for beach concessions, following a European Court of Justice ruling that found Italy in violation of the rules.