One of Sardinia’s most famous beaches, Punta Molentis near Vilazimius, has introduced strict new rules according to which only families with children under 10 and people over 65 can use umbrellas.
Local authorities explain that the decision was made to protect the sensitive ecosystem, especially after a large fire that engulfed the beach, dunes and parking lot last summer.
According to the new rules, a maximum of 150 visitors arriving by land can stay on the beach at the same time, and car access is limited to 70 vehicles per day.
Entry to the beach will have to be reserved in advance, and visitors arriving by land will pay a fee of 10 euros, while those arriving by boat will be charged a fee of five euros.
The measures will be valid until October 31, and the local administration says that the aim is to reduce the pressure of tourists on one of the most valuable, but also the most fragile areas on the southeast coast of Sardinia.
Last year, Punta Molentis was hit by a fire that forced bathers to be evacuated by boat, while dozens of cars burned in the parking lot.
It is this event that the authorities cite as the reason for stricter control of visits and the banning of most equipment that can further burden the space.
However, the new rules caused dissatisfaction among some citizens and tourists, who believe that banning umbrellas can be problematic during extreme heat.
Some users of social networks ironically commented that visitors will soon have to “rent” children or the elderly in order to have the right to shade, reports BBC.
The tourism website of Sardinia describes Punta Molentis as “one of the pearls of Vilazimius”, but precisely because of its great popularity, this beach has increasingly introduced restrictions in recent years to protect it from mass tourism.
