Italian Nuns Fight Council Over Beach Concession Amid EU Regulations

A dispute has erupted between a congregation of nuns and the town council of Spotorno, a coastal town in Liguria, Italy, over the future of a 50-meter stretch of beach managed by the sisters for decades. The local council's decision to subject the concession to public bidding, in line with Italian and European regulations, has been dubbed a "holy war" by local media.

The Sisters of Charity of Saint Mary have managed the Bagni Gino Garrone beach complex since the 1970s. They utilize the establishment to rent umbrellas and loungers, directing the profits towards charitable activities, including a kindergarten and a summer camp for children in Spotorno. Sister Miranda, an octogenarian nun, has become the public face of the protest, questioning the mayor's decision to revoke their concession.

"It is ours," she stated to Corriere Della Sera. "Why does the town council want to take our beach? If they do, we won't even be able to keep the school running."

The conflict stems from changes in maritime concession regulations. According to the municipality, the specific legal framework that previously allowed certain entities to manage beaches for social purposes no longer exists under current norms. Consequently, the nuns' beach section will be reclassified and must undergo a public tender process. Mayor Mattia Fiorini explained that the procedure aims to address unequal access to the coast and align Spotorno with competition rules, stating, "The nuns will have to participate in the tender like everyone else."

This situation is part of a broader, long-standing conflict between Italy and the European Union regarding private beach concessions. The EU's Bolkestein directive mandates competition rules for services, which Italian courts have deemed incompatible with the automatic, prolonged renewal of many concessions. Despite resistance from the influential beach establishment sector, the Italian government has agreed to a timeline for implementing public tenders.