A clash of cultures is playing out with renewed intensity on Italy's coast in this baking summer, with campaigners for free access to beaches pitted against the lido operators who charge for what they argue are essentials such as umbrellas, sun loungers, food kiosks and lifeguarding services.
Reuters – In Santa Severa, an ancient Etruscan port village about 50 km (30 miles) north-west of Rome, the battlelines are clear. The shoreline is dotted with colourful parasols, interrupted by narrow strips of open sand between the lidos. However, campaigners are pressing for more of Italy's beaches to be made available free of charge and argue that those not willing or able to pay are marginalised.
"Public beaches are relegated to the least desirable spots, such as rocky areas or near drainage outlets," said Elisabetta Gallo, an activist with the Free Seas National Coordination, which campaigns for free beach access. "This is a logic of exclusion, not of promoting free beaches," she added.
