This Is Italy
With nearly 8.000 kilometers of coastline, Italy is a true paradise for beach lovers. From the wide sandy beaches on the Adriatic Sea to the rugged bays of Sardinia and the colorful Amalfi Coast: a day at the seaside is inextricably linked to summer. You can also see this in the endless traffic jams heading towards the coast on warm weekends and around Ferragosto, when half of Italy seems to be on vacation.
Are you also going to an Italian beach this summer? Then it is handy to know a few unwritten rules. This way, you avoid standing out as a tourist right away.
What are you wearing?
On an Italian beach, it is all about looking good *and* comfort. A bikini for women or swim shorts for men is the standard, complemented by a light dress, a pareo, a T-shirt, or a linen shirt for the walk to the beach bar. Note: swimwear is really intended for the beach. If you walk into the town or village, some 'dressing up' is expected of you (if you don't want to be mistaken for a tourist).
Flip-flops are practically indispensable. They protect your feet from the hot sand and simply suit a beach day better than sneakers. On rocky beaches, some Italians opt for water shoes, but you hardly see them on sandy beaches. Do be careful when walking through the sand with flip-flops: you can easily scoop up piles of sand onto fellow beachgoers' towels.
Sunglasses are, of course, a must, and a hat or cap is by no means unusual, especially during the hottest hours of the day. Your most beautiful bags can stay at home: the sun and sea would only damage them. Topless sunbathing is only customary on specific beaches.
Beach body?
Don't worry too much about your beach bodyOf course, you come across plenty of toned and athletic bodies on Italian beaches. But you see just as many self-assured fifty-, sixty-, and seventy-year-olds walking along the beach in bikinis or swimming trunks without any embarrassment. It is precisely that relaxed self-confidence that stands out: age, size, or figure seem far less important than simply enjoying a day by the sea.
Although the swimsuit has regained popularity in recent years, the bikini remains the favorite choice for many Italian women under eighty. Beachwear may be slightly less of a topic for men, but the tight Speedo swimming trunks are still remarkably popular on Italian beaches.
Public or private?
Anyone going on holiday to Italy for the first time is sometimes surprised by the many private beaches for which you have to pay.
Create a free beach is a public beach where you can lay down your towel for free. Especially in popular seaside resorts, these sections of beach are often limited and can get quite crowded with entire families. Families often bring parasols and cool boxes to these free beaches as well.
Many Italians therefore opt for a Bathhouse: a private beach where you rent sunbeds and a parasol. Showers, changing rooms, toilets, a restaurant, and a beach bar are often also available. In some cases, you can even rent your own beach cabin to safely store your belongings.
In addition, more and more beach clubs offer extra luxury, such as service at your sunbed, massages, or wellness facilities. If you are staying at a hotel by the sea, feel free to ask if the hotel has agreements with a beach club. This often results in a discount, and you will want that, because The Italian beaches are not cheap..
Preferably choose a beach with a Blue Flag (Bandiera Blu). This international award is granted to beaches with clean swimming water, good facilities, and a safe swimming environment. This is a useful guideline, especially when you are out with children.
take your time
Italians don't just go to the beach for an hour. A beach day often lasts from morning until early evening.
Between approximately 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM, many people seek out the shade, have a leisurely lunch at the beach bar, or enjoy a cool drink on the covered terrace. The beach often only starts to fill up again later in the afternoon. Some even wait until 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM, when most beachgoers return to their holiday homes, hotels, or campsites.
Many Italians still believe that it is better to wait 2 to 3 hours before swimming after eating. Moreover, for many parents, it is a great opportunity to let the children take an afternoon nap, while they themselves can enjoy some well-deserved rest.
Greet your neighbors
On an Italian beach is a friendly good morning Or a nod to the people next to you is perfectly normal. You don't have to strike up an extensive conversation, but a little contact is appreciated. Keep in mind that on busy days you might suddenly have neighbors lying down just a few centimeters away from you.
Take a dive
Italians don't just spend hours on their sunbeds. There is plenty of swimming, especially when the temperature rises above 30 degrees (and the chance of that is quite high in the summer).
On almost all supervised beaches, you will see flags at the lifeguard station. A red flag means that swimming is prohibited. Take that warning seriously; the lifeguards are there for a reason.
Sunburn
Buy your sunscreen at the airport or, for example, at Action or the DM drugstore market (at home or in Italy), as it is very expensive in shops by the beach, in pharmacies, or supermarkets. Keep applying it, as the UV intensity of the Italian sun is usually high.
Enjoy the beach bar or bring your own.
A cold drink is part of a day at the seaside. At most beaches, you can get water, soft drinks, beer, or an aperitif. The beach bar often serves as well. panini, salads or simple pasta dishes. It is also perfectly acceptable to bring your own drinks and food. Many Italian families do that too.
On some more luxurious paid beaches, house rules may apply that restrict large cool boxes or elaborate picnics. Unsure? Check the beach club's website or ask at the entrance.
Don't leave a mess behind
Italians are proud of their beaches, and in many coastal towns, strict rules apply to keep them clean. Therefore, do not leave any waste behind and use the trash cans that are available almost everywhere. In various Italian municipalities, there are heavy fines for beach pollution. Also, do not take sand, stones, or shells with you, as this is not appreciated and can even result in fines.
Beach vendors
Street vendors, or rather: beach vendors, will try to sell you all sorts of things. From sunglasses to massages. Be aware that many do not have a permit for these practices and cannot produce a receipt, which could put you in violation as a customer. You need to be especially careful with 'designer bags' and that sort of thing. A friendly no, thank you usually suffices.
Think of your neighbors
Shaking a towel full of sand while the people next to you are sunbathing? You won't make many friends doing that. It is better to walk a little closer to the waterline before you shake the sand out of your towel. Loud music is not appreciated everywhere either. On many Italian beaches, it is all about peace, the sea, and conviviality. Although that conviviality can sometimes get noisy with large families ranging from babies to great-grandmothers!
Feel free to look around you
People-watching is somewhat part of Italian beach culture. Italians enjoy observing what is happening around them. That doesn't mean you are being judged; it is simply part of the relaxed atmosphere by the sea.
Above all, enjoy
Perhaps the most important Italian beach rule: take it easy. A day at the seaside isn't about soaking up as many hours of sun as possible, but about relaxing, enjoying good food, taking a refreshing dip, and spending time with family and friends. Anyone who adopts that rhythm soon feels a bit Italian.
Sources: CN Traveler, Vorrei, Italy Magazine
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