A trip to the beach has never been completed without a beach towel. Whether small or colorful, this is an essential item for travel planning, such as sunscreen, sunglasses, and sun hats.
However, Brits who want to heb-start their summer vacation plans may be surprised that Europe's popular beaches have unique rules when it comes to humble beach towels.
In Italy, the Sardinia beaches in Lapelosa are one of the most popular beaches on the continent. It is famous for its incredibly crystal clear water, its diamond white sand and its famous 16th century tower, just a few meters from the coast.
It also boasts some of the strictest rules for holiday makers in Europe. Most impressive is the prohibition of placing beach towels on the sand.
The rule was introduced in 2018 due to the fear that tourists were ruining the precious scenery of the beach by bringing home a huge amount of sand as souvenirs.
A year ago, the whole of Sardinia passed the law, criminalizing everyone to bring back shells, sand and pebbles, and fined them between 300 and 5,000 euros (250 to 4,183 pounds). To avoid a towel ban, LaPelosa authorities have insisted on placing towels on straw mats where tourists can rent towels.
According to Thelocal.IT's website, the towel ban met fierce local opposition when it was first introduced. Locals accused Antonio Diana, mayor of Stintino, then LaPelosa's hometown, of trying to turn the area into a resort for wealthy tourists.
Diana fought back and told La Repubblica:
“The idea of banning towels is not our invention. The entire plan currently in place is based on scientific research, which shows towels as one of the biggest dangers, because when they are wet, they hold a large amount of sand.
Lapelosa's website also reflected Diana's words, adding: “(The Beach) is as beautiful as it is fragile. Over the decades, it has undergone changes and erosion, including maxiflux. Regulations have been enacted to protect it.”
In addition to ban beach towels and returning marine tools to the home, visitors must follow these additional rules, as stated on the official La Pelosa website.
Wash sand from your feet when leaving the beach smoke to the specified area.
In addition to strict rules, Lapelosa is also well known for being too crowded during the summer.
To improve this, daily caps of 1,500 people attending the sandy coast during the high season are effective. Tickets for entry can be purchased online at the La Pelosa website for E3.50 (£3). This year's allocation has not been released yet, but advance reservations are recommended when it comes to live.
TripAdvisor beach reviews are mixed. Some complained about the strict rules. “Absurd rules like no sand castles, and literally guarding you to check if you have an armband.
At the other end of the spectrum, some people rave about the untouched nature of the beach. This commenter summed up such an idea: “The most beautiful beaches and clearest water with white sand I've ever seen. You can't skip this!”
