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Nuns protest 'sacred beach' tender in Italy
🇹🇷 Turkey /Culture & Society

Nuns protest 'sacred beach' tender in Italy

From Cumhuriyet · () Turkish

Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Nuns in Spotorno, Italy, are protesting the local government's decision to put their beach facility, operated since 1946, up for public tender.
  • The municipality claims the decision aligns with EU competition rules for coastal concessions, aiming to reclassify the area as a free-access public beach.
  • The nuns argue the facility's revenue funds social activities like a kindergarten and summer camps, and that operating under new tender conditions would be economically unsustainable.

A dispute has erupted in the Italian coastal town of Spotorno, Liguria, between a group of nuns and the local administration over a beach facility they have operated since 1946. The municipality's decision to include the facility, run by the Suore di Carità di Santa Maria order, in a public tender has sparked strong opposition from the nuns.

The local government stated that the move is intended to comply with European Union competition regulations regarding coastal usage rights and regional directives. The plan is to reclassify the area as a "free-access, equipped public beach."

However, the nuns contend that the revenue generated from renting sunbeds and umbrellas at the facility is not for commercial profit but is used to finance their charitable activities. They assert that these funds support a kindergarten and children's summer camp programs. For many years, the facility operated under different rules than commercial businesses due to its social purpose.

If they want to continue operating the beach, they have to enter the tender like everyone else.

— Mattia FioriniSpotorno Mayor Mattia Fiorini stated that the nuns must participate in a public tender to continue operating the beach facility.

Spotorno Mayor Mattia Fiorini explained that if the nuns wish to continue operating the beach, they must participate in the public tender like any other operator. The tender is expected to be announced in the fall. Sister Miranda, 80, voiced her distress, stating, "This is ours. Why does the municipality want to take our beach away? If they do this, we might not even be able to continue operating the school."

The nuns argue that if the beach becomes free to the public with only nominal charges for sunbeds and umbrellas, the operation will no longer be economically viable. This could significantly reduce the income available for their charitable work. The issue of private operating rights on Italian beaches has been a long-standing point of contention between Italy and the EU, with successive Italian governments resisting the application of competition rules due to pressure from concession holders.

This is ours. Why does the municipality want to take our beach away? If they do this, we might not even be able to continue operating the school.

— Sister MirandaAn 80-year-old nun expressed her dismay and concern over the potential loss of the beach facility and its impact on their social programs.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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