Nuns dispute municipal plans to reclaim beach in Liguria

A dispute has emerged in the coastal town of Spotorno, Liguria, where an order of nuns is contesting a municipal decision to reclaim a 50-meter stretch of beach known as Bagni Gino Garrone. The Suore di Carità di Santa Maria order has managed the property since 1946, utilizing the revenue from renting sunbeds and umbrellas to fund local charitable works, including a kindergarten and a summer camp. Historically, the order enjoyed an exemption from standard commercial regulations due to their philanthropic mission.

The local municipal council has decided that the beach concession must now be subjected to a public tender process. This move is part of an effort to comply with European Union directives regarding beach concessions and regional requirements concerning public access to coastal areas. While the authorities emphasize the need for legal and regulatory alignment, the nuns are resisting the change, which threatens the financial sustainability of their long-standing charitable operations in the community. The situation has been characterized by some local media as a "holy war" over the future of the shoreline.